Approaches to determining health of a living body through analysis of the pressure of inflatable chambers of a pressure-mitigation device

ABSTRACT

Introduced here are pressure-mitigation systems able to mitigate the pressure applied to a human body by the surface of an object. A system can include a pressure-mitigation device with chambers whose pressure can be varied by a controller that regulates the flow of fluid produced by a pump. The controller may be deployed as part of a closed loop system that autonomously infers information related to the health of a patient based on data related to the pressure of these chambers. For example, the data may be examined to determine whether the values indicate the patient is properly situated. A notification may be presented responsive to determining that the patient is not situated on the pressure-mitigation device, the patient has been improperly situated on the pressure-mitigation device for a certain amount of time, etc. Thus, real-time feedback may be provided to those responsible for monitoring the patient.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 17/236,955, titled “Network-Enabled Systems for Mitigating PressureApplied to a Living Body by an Underlying Surface” and filed on Apr. 21,2021, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.63/013,074, titled “Network-Enabled Systems for Mitigating ContactPressure” and filed on Apr. 21, 2020, each of which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments concern network-enabled apparatuses able to mitigatethe pressure applied to a human body by the surface of an object.

BACKGROUND

Pressure injuries—sometimes referred to as “decubitus ulcers,” “pressureulcers,” “pressure sores,” or “bedsores”—may occur as a result of steadypressure being applied in one location along the surface of the humanbody for a prolonged period of time. Regions with bony prominences areespecially susceptible to pressure injuries. Pressure injuries are mostcommon in individuals who are completely immobilized (e.g., on anoperating table, bed, or chair) or have impaired mobility. Theseindividuals may be older, malnourished, or incontinent, all factors thatpredispose the human body to formation of pressure injuries.

These individuals are often not ambulatory, so they sit or lie forprolonged periods of time in the same position. Moreover, theseindividuals may be unable to reposition themselves to alleviatepressure. Consequently, pressure on the skin and underlying soft tissuemay eventually result in inadequate blood flow to the area, a conditionreferred to as “ischemia,” thereby resulting in damage to the skin orunderlying soft tissue. Pressure injuries can take the form of asuperficial injury to the skin or a deeper ulcer that exposes theunderlying tissues and places the individual at risk for infection. Theresulting infection may worsen, leading to sepsis or even death in somecases.

There are various technologies on the market that profess to preventpressure injuries. However, these conventional technologies have manydeficiencies. For instance, these conventional technologies are unableto control the spatial relationship between a human body and a supportsurface (or simply “surface”) that applies pressure to the human body.Consequently, individuals that use these conventional technologies maystill develop pressure injuries or suffer from related complications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-B are top and bottom views, respectively, of apressure-mitigation device able to relieve the pressure on an anatomicalregion applied by the surface of an elongated object in accordance withembodiments of the present technology.

FIGS. 2A-B are top and bottom views, respectively, of apressure-mitigation device configured in accordance with embodiments ofthe present technology.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a pressure-mitigation device for relievingpressure on an anatomical region applied by a wheelchair in accordancewith embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 4 is a partially schematic top view of a pressure-mitigation deviceillustrating how a pressure gradient can be created by varying pressuredistributions to avoid ischemia in a mobility-impaired patient inaccordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 5A is a partially schematic side view of a pressure-mitigationdevice for relieving pressure on a specific anatomical region bydeflating chamber(s) in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIG. 5B is a partially schematic side view of a pressure-mitigationdevice for relieving pressure on a specific anatomical region byinflating chamber(s) in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIGS. 6A-C are isometric, front, and back views, respectively, of acontroller device (also referred to as a “controller”) that isresponsible for controlling inflation and/or deflation of the chambersof a pressure-mitigation device in accordance with embodiments of thepresent technology.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating components of a controller inaccordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a manifold for controlling the flow offluid (e.g., air) to the chambers of a pressure-mitigation device inaccordance with embodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 9 is a generalized electrical diagram illustrating how thepiezoelectric valves of a manifold can separately control the flow offluid along multiple channels in accordance with embodiments of thepresent technology.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a process for varying the pressure in thechambers of a pressure-mitigation device that is positioned between ahuman body and a surface in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a process for establishing movements of thehuman body situated on a pressure-mitigation device without placing anysensors in direct contact with the human body in accordance withembodiments of the present technology.

FIG. 12 depicts an example of a communication environment that includesa controller that is responsible for controlling inflation and/ordeflation of a pressure-mitigation device (not shown).

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of a process for establishing a value for acharacteristic of the human body situated on a pressure-mitigationdevice based on an analysis of data representative of the pressure ofthe chambers of the pressure-mitigation device.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of a process for producing a coverage metricthat indicates whether the pressure-mitigation device is being operatedin accordance with a treatment regimen (also referred to as a “treatmentprogram”).

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of a process for establishing whether apressure-mitigation device that is deployed beneath a human body isbeing used in compliance with a treatment regimen.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of a process for discovering occurrences ofmedical events through analysis of data related to the pressure ofchambers of a pressure-mitigation device.

FIG. 17 is a partially schematic side view of a pressure-mitigationsystem (or simply “system”) for orienting a user over apressure-mitigation device in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology.

FIG. 18A illustrates an example of a pressure-mitigation device thatincludes a pair of elevated side supports that has been deployed on thesurface of an object (here, a hospital bed).

FIG. 18B illustrates an example of a pressure-mitigation device with noelevated side supports that has deployed on the surface of an object(here, an operating table).

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a processing system in which atleast some operations described herein can be implemented.

Various features of the technologies described herein will become moreapparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the DetailedDescription in conjunction with the drawings. Embodiments areillustrated by way of example and not limitation in the drawings. Whilethe drawings depict various embodiments for the purpose of illustration,those skilled in the art will recognize that alternative embodiments maybe employed without departing from the principles of the technologies.Accordingly, while specific embodiments are shown in the drawings, thetechnology is amenable to various modifications

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The term “pressure injury” refers to a localized region of damage to theskin and/or underlying tissue that results from contact pressure (orsimply “pressure”) on the corresponding anatomical region of the humanbody. Pressure injuries will often form over bony prominences, such asthe skin and soft tissue overlying the sacrum, coccyx, heels, or hips.However, other sites may also be affected. For instance, pressureinjuries may form on the elbows, knees, ankles, shoulders, abdomen,back, or cranium. Pressure injuries may develop when pressure is appliedto the blood vessels in soft tissue in such a manner that blood flow tothe soft tissue is at least partially obstructed (e.g., due to thepressure exceeding the capillary filling pressure), and ischemia resultsat the site when such obstruction occurs for an extended duration.Accordingly, pressure injuries are normally observed on individuals whoare mobility impaired, immobilized, or sedentary for prolonged periodsof times.

Once pressure injuries have formed, the healing process is normallyslow. For example, when pressure is relieved from the site of a pressureinjury, the body will rush blood (with proinflammatory mediators) tothat region to perfuse the area with blood. The sudden reperfusion ofthe damaged (and previously ischemic) region has been shown to cause aninflammatory response, brought on by the proinflammatory mediators, thatcan actually worsen the pressure injury and prolong recovery. Moreover,in some cases, the proinflammatory mediators may spread through theblood stream beyond the site of the pressure injury to cause asystematic inflammatory response (also referred to as a “secondaryinflammatory response”). The secondary inflammatory response caused bythe proinflammatory mediators has been shown to exacerbate existingconditions and/or trigger new conditions, thereby slowing recovery.Recovery can also be prolonged by factors that are frequently associatedwith individuals who are prone to pressure injuries, such as old age,immobility, preexisting medical conditions (e.g., arteriosclerosis,diabetes, or infection), smoking, and medications (e.g.,anti-inflammatory drugs). Inhibiting the formation of pressure injuries(and reducing the prevalence of proinflammatory mediators) can enhanceand expedite many treatment processes, especially for those individualswhose mobility is impaired during treatment.

Introduced here, therefore, are network-enabled system able to mitigatethe pressure applied to a living body by the surface of an object (alsoreferred to as a “structure”). While embodiments may be described in thecontext of a human body, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe network-enabled apparatuses could similarly be used in the contextof, for example, animal bodies. A network-enabled system may comprise acontroller device (or simply “controller”) that is fluidically coupledto a pressure-mitigation device (also referred to as a“pressure-mitigation apparatus” or a “pressure-mitigation pad”) thatincludes a series of selectively inflatable chambers (also referred toas “cells” or “compartments”). When a pressure-mitigation device isplaced between a living body and a surface, the controller cancontinuously, intelligently, and autonomously circulate air through thechambers of the pressure-mitigation device. As further discussed below,the controller may cause the chambers to be selectively inflated,deflated, or any combination thereof.

By controllably varying the pressure in the series of chambers, thecontroller can move the main point of pressure applied by the surface todifferent anatomical regions of the living body. Said another way, thecontroller can move the main point of pressure across the surface of theliving body. For example, the controller may cause the main point ofpressure applied by the surface to be moved amongst a plurality ofpredetermined anatomical locations by sequentially varying the level ofinflation of (and pressure in) predetermined subsets of chambers. Suchan approach results in pressure gradients being created across thesurface of the living body. In some embodiments, the controller controlsthe pressure of chambers located beneath specific anatomical locationsfor specific durations in order to move point(s) of pressure applied bythe underlying surface around the anatomy in a precise manner such thatspecific portions of the anatomy (e.g., the tissue adjacent to bonyprominences) do not experience direct pressure for an extended duration.The relocation of the pressure point(s) avoids vascular compression forsustained periods of time, inhibits ischemia, and reduces the incidenceof pressure injuries.

The controller can include one or more transducers that are configuredto generate an electrical signal based on the pressure of each chamberof the pressure-mitigation device. If, for example, thepressure-mitigation device includes three chambers interwoven togetherinto a roughly rectangular pattern, the controller may include threetransducers, each of which is operable to generate an electrical signalthat is indicative of the pressure of a corresponding chamber.Accordingly, the controller may obtain pressure data that isrepresentative of the values of the electrical signals generated by thetransducers over time. As further discussed below, the controller canexamine the pressure data to establish whether the pressure-mitigationdevice has been properly employed. For example, the controller mayexamine the pressure data to infer information regarding the length ofthe treatment session, movements of the living body, present location ofthe human body, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the controller cantransmit the pressure data to another computing device (e.g., a computerserver or mobile phone) that is responsible for inferring suchinformation.

Rather than measure the pressure directly (e.g., with transducers), thepressure of chambers may be instead be inferred based on the rate atwhich fluid flows into the chambers in some embodiments. At a highlevel, the force applied to a given chamber by a living body can beinferred based on the rate at which fluid must flow into the givenchamber to maintain a desired pressure. In a sense, the controller maybe able to intelligently derive how much force is being applied to thepressure-mitigation device based on how difficult it is to maintain thepressure of the chambers. While embodiments may be described in thecontext of pressure data that based on electrical signals generated bytransducers mounted in the controller, the embodiments are similarlyapplicable regardless of how that pressure data is generated.Accordingly, the controller may apply a heuristic, algorithm, or modelthat is programmed to estimate the force applied to thepressure-mitigation device a per-chamber basis based on the rate atwhich fluid must flow into those chambers to maintain a desiredpressure, and the pressure data may be based on outputs produced by theheuristic, algorithm, or model.

Such an approach to monitoring the pressure of the chambers of thepressure-mitigation device allows the controller to be deployed as partof a closed loop system in which information related to the health stateof the living body is autonomously inferred based on an analysis of thepressure data. For example, the pressure data may be examined (e.g., bythe controller or the other computing device) to determine whether thevalues indicate the living body was properly arranged over thepressure-mitigation device. Notifications may be presented that indicatewhether the living body was properly arranged over thepressure-mitigation device. For example, notifications may be presentedto an administrator who is associated with a hospital in which thepressure-mitigation device is located, or notifications may be presentedto a person (e.g., a healthcare professional or family member) who isresponsible for managing treatment of the living body. Thus, feedbackmay be periodically or continually provided regarding whether thepressure-mitigation device is being properly used.

Embodiments may be described with reference to particular anatomicalregions, treatment regimens, computing devices, networks, etc. However,those skilled in the art will recognize that the features are similarlyapplicable to other anatomical regions, treatment regimens, computingdevices, networks, etc. As an example, embodiments may be described inthe context of a pressure-mitigation device that is positioned adjacentto an anterior anatomical region of a person oriented in the proneposition. However, aspects of those embodiments may apply to apressure-mitigation device that is positioned adjacent to a posterioranatomical region of a person oriented in the supine position. Asanother example, although embodiments may be described in the context ofa mobile application executing on a mobile phone that is communicativelycoupled to a controller, the relevant features may be embodied in othertypes of computer programs and other types of computing devices.

While embodiments may be described in the context of machine-readableinstructions, aspects of the technology can be implemented via hardware,firmware, or software. As an example, a controller may executeinstructions for producing, based on pressure data, a metric that isindicative of the health of a living body based on the amount or type ofmovement exhibited by the living body while positioned on apressure-mitigation device. As another example, a controller may executeinstructions for generating, based on pressure data, notificationsresponsive to determining that a criterion (e.g., no movement for apredetermined interval of time, improper placement on thepressure-mitigation device) have been met.

These instructions may be executed as part of an instruction set that,when executed by a processor, causes the processor to examine datapertaining to the pressures of the chambers of a pressure-mitigationdevice arranged beneath a living body, infer movements and/or locationsof the loving body over time based on the data, produce a compliancemetric based on the inferred movements and/or locations, and thengenerate a notification that specifies the compliance metric. Asmentioned above, the processor may be included in the controller oranother computing device to which the controller is communicativelyconnected.

Terminology

References in this description to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment”means that the feature, function, structure, or characteristic beingdescribed is included in at least one embodiment. Occurrences of suchphrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor are theynecessarily referring to alternative embodiments that are mutuallyexclusive of one another.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the terms “comprise,”“comprising,” and “comprised of” are to be construed in an inclusivesense rather than an exclusive or exhaustive sense (i.e., in the senseof “including but not limited to”). The term “based on” is also to beconstrued in an inclusive sense rather than an exclusive or exhaustivesense. Thus, unless otherwise noted, the term “based on” is intended tomean “based at least in part on.”

The terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof is intended toinclude any connection or coupling between two or more elements, eitherdirect or indirect. The connection/coupling can be physical, logical, ora combination thereof. For example, objects may be electrically orcommunicatively coupled to one another despite not sharing a physicalconnection.

The term “module” may be used to refer broadly to software components,firmware components, hardware components, or any combination thereof.Modules are typically functional components that generate output(s)based on specified input(s). A computer program may include one or moremodules. Thus, a computer program may include multiple modulesresponsible for completing different tasks or a single moduleresponsible for completing all tasks.

When used in reference to a list of multiple items, the term “or” isintended to cover all of the following interpretations: any of the itemsin the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of itemsin the list.

The sequences of steps performed in any of the processes described hereare exemplary. However, unless contrary to physical possibility, thesteps may be performed in various sequences and combinations. Forexample, steps could be added to, or removed from, the processesdescribed here. Similarly, steps could be replaced or reordered. Thus,descriptions of any processes are intended to be open-ended.

Overview of Pressure-Mitigation Devices

A pressure-mitigation device includes a plurality of chambers (alsoreferred to as “cells” or “compartments”) into which air can flow. Eachchamber may be associated with a discrete flow of air so that thepressure in the plurality of chambers can be varied as necessary. Whenplaced on the surface of an object on which a human body rests, thepressure-mitigation device can vary the pressure on an anatomical regionby controllably inflating chamber(s) and/or deflating chamber(s) tocreate pressure gradients. Several examples of pressure-mitigationdevices are described below with respect to FIGS. 1A-3 . Unlessotherwise noted, any features described with respect to one embodimentare equally applicable to other embodiments. Some features have onlybeen described with respect to a single embodiment for the purpose ofsimplifying the present disclosure.

FIGS. 1A-B are top and bottom views, respectively, of apressure-mitigation device 100 able to relieve the pressure on ananatomical region applied by the surface of an elongated object inaccordance with embodiments of the present technology. While thepressure-mitigation device 100 may be described in the context ofelongated objects, such as mattresses, stretchers, operating tables, andprocedure tables, the pressure-mitigation device 100 could be deployedon non-elongated objects. In some embodiments, the pressure-mitigationdevice 100 is secured to a support surface using an attachmentapparatus. In other embodiments, the pressure-mitigation device 100 isplaced in direct contact with the surface without any attachmentapparatus therebetween. For example, the pressure-mitigation device 100may have a tacky substance deposited along at least a portion of itsouter surface that allows it to temporarily adhere to the surface.Examples of tacky substances include latex, urethane, and siliconerubber.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the pressure-mitigation device 100 can include acentral portion 102 (also referred to as a “contact portion”) that ispositioned alongside at least one side support 104. Here, a pair of sidesupports 104 are arranged on opposing sides of the central portion 102.However, some embodiments of the pressure-mitigation device 100 do notinclude any side supports. For example, the side support(s) 104 may beomitted when the individual is medically immobilized (e.g., underanesthesia, in a medically induced coma, etc.) and/or physicallyrestrained by underlying object (e.g., by rails along the side of a bed,armrests along the side of a chair, etc.) or some other structure (e.g.,physical restraints, casts, etc.).

The pressure-mitigation device 100 includes a series of chambers 106whose pressure can be individually varied. In some embodiments, theseries of chambers 106 are arranged in a geometric pattern designed torelieve pressure on specific anatomical region(s) of a human body. Asnoted above, when placed between the human body and a surface, thepressure-mitigation device 100 can vary the pressure on these specificanatomical region(s) by controllably inflating and/or deflatingchamber(s).

In some embodiments, the series of chambers 106 are arranged such thatpressure on a given anatomical region is mitigated when the givenanatomical region is oriented over a target region 108 of the geometricpattern. As shown in FIGS. 1A-B, the target region 108 may berepresentative of a central point of the pressure-mitigation device 100to appropriately position the anatomy of the human body with respect tothe pressure-mitigation device 100. For example, the target region 108may correspond to the center of the geometric pattern. However, thetarget region 108 may not necessarily be the central point of thepressure-mitigation device 100, particularly if the series of chambers106 are positioned in a non-symmetric arrangement. The target region 108may be visibly marked so that an individual can readily align the targetregion 108 with a corresponding anatomical region of the human body tobe positioned thereon. Thus, the pressure-mitigation device 100 mayinclude a visual element representative of the target region 108 tofacilitate alignment with the corresponding anatomical region of thehuman body. The individual could be a healthcare professional, such as aphysician, nurse, or personal care assistant (e.g., employed by anursing home), or some other caregiver, such as a family member orfriend of the patient. Alternatively, the individual could be thepatient.

The pressure-mitigation device 100 can include a first portion 110 (alsoreferred to as a “first layer” or “bottom layer”) designed to face asurface and a second portion 112 (also referred to as a “second layer”or “top layer”) designed to face the human body supported by thesurface. In some embodiments, the pressure-mitigation device 100 isdeployed such that the first portion 110 is directly adjacent to thesurface. For example, the first portion 110 may have a tacky substancedeposited along at least a portion of its exterior surface thatfacilitates temporarily adhesion to the support surface. In otherembodiments, the pressure-mitigation device 100 is deployed such thatthe first portion 110 is directly adjacent to an attachment apparatusdesigned to help secure the pressure-mitigation device 100 to thesupport surface. The pressure-mitigation device 100 may be constructedof various materials, and the material(s) used in the construction ofeach component of the pressure-mitigation device 100 may be chosen basedon the nature of the body contact, if any, to be experienced by thecomponent. For example, because the second portion 112 will often be indirect contact with the skin, it may be comprised of a soft fabric or abreathable fabric (e.g., comprised of moisture-wicking materials orquick-drying materials, or having perforations). In some embodiments, animpervious lining (e.g., comprised of polyurethane) is secured to theinside of the second portion 112 to inhibit fluid (e.g., sweat) fromentering the series of chambers 106. As another example, if thepressure-mitigation device 100 is designed for deployment beneath acover (e.g., a bed sheet), then the second portion 112 may be comprisedof a flexible, liquid-impervious material, such as polyurethane,polypropylene, silicone, or rubber. The first portion 110 may also becomprised of a flexible, liquid-impervious material.

The series of chambers 106 may be formed via interconnections betweenthe first and second portions 110, 112. For example, the first andsecond portions 110, 112 may be bound directly to one another, or thefirst and second portions 110, 112 may be bound to one another via oneor more intermediary layers. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.1A-B, the pressure-mitigation device 100 includes an “M-shaped” chamberintertwined with two “C-shaped” chambers that face one another. Such anarrangement has been shown to effectively mitigate the pressure appliedto the sacral region of a human body in the supine position by a supportsurface when the pressure in these chambers is alternated. The series ofchambers 106 may be arranged differently if the pressure-mitigationdevice 100 is designed for an anatomical region other than the sacralregion, or if the pressure-mitigation device 100 is to be used tosupport a human body in a non-supine position (e.g., a prone position orsitting position). Generally, the geometric pattern of chambers 106 isdesigned based on the internal anatomy (e.g., the muscles, bones, andvasculature) of the anatomical region on which pressure is to berelieved.

The user of the pressure-mitigation device 100 and/or the personresponsible for monitoring the user may be responsible for activelyorienting the anatomical region of the human body lengthwise over thetarget region 108 of the geometric pattern. If the pressure-mitigationdevice 100 includes one or more side supports 104, the side support(s)104 may actively orient or guide the anatomical region of the human bodylaterally over the target region 108 of the geometric pattern. In someembodiments the side support(s) 104 are inflatable, while in otherembodiments the side support(s) 104 are permanent structures thatprotrude from one or both lateral sides of the pressure-mitigationdevice 100. For example, at least a portion of each side support may bestuffed with cotton, latex, polyurethane foam, or any combinationthereof.

As further described below with respect to FIGS. 6A-C, a controller canseparately control the pressure in each chamber (as well as the sidesupports 104, if included) by providing a discrete airflow via one ormore corresponding valves 114. In some embodiments, the valves 114 arepermanently secured to the pressure-mitigation device 100 and designedto interface with tubing that can be readily detached (e.g., for easiertransport, storage, etc.). Here, the pressure-mitigation device 100includes five valves 114. Three valves are fluidically coupled to theseries of chambers 106, and two valves are fluidically coupled to theside supports 104. Other embodiments of the pressure-mitigation device100 may include more than five valves or less than five valves. Forexample, the pressure-mitigation device 100 may be designed such that apair of side supports 104 are pressurized via a single airflow receivedvia a single valve.

In some embodiments, the pressure-mitigation device 100 includes one ormore design features 116 a-c designed to facilitate securement of thepressure-mitigation device 100 to the surface of an object and/or anattachment apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, for example, thepressure-mitigation device 100 may include three design features 116a-c, each of which can be aligned with a corresponding structuralfeature that is accessible along the surface of the object or theattachment apparatus. For example, each design feature 116 a-c may bedesigned to at least partially envelope a structural feature thatprotrudes upward. One example of such a structural feature is a railthat extends along the side of a bed. The design feature(s) 116 a-c mayalso facilitate proper alignment of the pressure-mitigation device 100with the surface of the object or the attachment apparatus.

FIGS. 2A-B are top and bottom views, respectively, of apressure-mitigation device 200 configured in accordance with embodimentsof the present technology. The pressure-mitigation device 200 isgenerally used in conjunction with nonelongated objects that supportindividuals in a seated or partially erect position. Examples ofnonelongated objects include chairs (e.g., office chairs, examinationchairs, recliners, and wheelchairs) and the seats included in vehiclesand airplanes. Accordingly, the pressure-mitigation device 200 may bepositioned atop surfaces that have side supports integrated into theobject itself (e.g., the side arms of a recliner or wheelchair). Note,however, that the pressure-mitigation device 200 could likewise be usedin conjunction with elongated objects in a manner generally similar tothe pressure-mitigation device 100 of FIGS. 1A-B.

In some embodiments, the pressure-mitigation device 200 is secured to asurface using an attachment apparatus. In other embodiments, theattachment apparatus is omitted such that the pressure-mitigation device200 directly contacts the underlying surface. In such embodiments, thepressure-mitigation device 200 may have a tacky substance depositedalong at least a portion of its outer surface that allows it totemporarily adhere to the surface.

The pressure-mitigation device 200 can include various features similarto the features of the pressure-mitigation device 100 described abovewith respect to FIGS. 1A-B. For example, the pressure-mitigation device200 may include a first portion 202 (also referred to as a “first layer”or “bottom layer”) designed to face the surface, a second portion 204(also referred to as a “second layer” or “top layer”) designed to facethe human body supported by the surface, and a plurality of chambers 206formed via interconnections between the first and second portions 202,204. In this embodiment, the pressure-mitigation device 200 includes an“M-shaped” chamber intertwined with a backward “J-shaped” chamber and abackward “C-shaped” chamber. Varying the pressure in such an arrangementof chambers 206 has been shown to effectively mitigate the pressureapplied by a surface to the gluteal and sacral regions of a human bodyin a seated position. These chambers may be intertwined to collectivelyform a square-shaped pattern. Pressure-mitigation devices designed fordeployment on the surfaces of non-elongated objects may havesubstantially quadrilateral-shaped patterns of chambers, whilepressure-mitigation devices designed for deployment on the surfaces ofelongated objects may have substantially square-shaped patterns ofchambers.

As further discussed below, the chambers 206 can be inflated and/ordeflated in a predetermined pattern and to predetermined pressurelevels. The individual chambers 206 may be inflated to higher pressurelevels than the chambers 106 of the pressure-mitigation device 100described with respect to FIGS. 1A-B because the human body beingsupported by the pressure-mitigation device 200 is in a seated position,thereby causing more pressure to be applied by the underlying surfacethan if the human body were in a supine or prone position. Further,unlike the pressure mitigation device 100 of FIGS. 1A-B, thepressure-mitigation device 200 of FIGS. 2A-B does not include sidesupports. As noted above, side supports may be omitted when the objecton which the individual is situated (e.g., seated or reclined) alreadyprovides components that will laterally center the human body, as isoften the case with nonelongated support surfaces. One example of such acomponent is the armrests along the side of a chair.

As further described below with respect to FIGS. 6A-C, a controller cancontrol the pressure in each chamber 206 by providing a discrete airflowvia one or more corresponding valves 208. Here, the pressure-mitigationdevice 200 includes three valves 208, and each of the three valves 208corresponds to a single chamber 206. Other embodiments of thepressure-mitigation device 200 may include fewer than three valves ormore than three valves, and each valve can be associated with one ormore chambers to control inflation/deflation of those chamber(s). Asingle valve could be in fluid communication with two or more chambers.Further, a single chamber could be in fluid communication with two ormore valves (e.g., one valve for inflation and another valve fordeflation).

FIG. 3 is a top view of a pressure-mitigation device 300 for relievingpressure on an anatomical region applied by a wheelchair in accordancewith embodiments of the present technology. The pressure-mitigationdevice 300 can include features similar to the features of thepressure-mitigation device 200 of FIGS. 2A-B and the pressure-mitigationdevice 100 of FIGS. 1A-B described above. For example, thepressure-mitigation device 300 can include a first portion 302 (alsoreferred to as a “first layer” or “bottom layer”) designed to face theseat of the wheelchair, a second portion 304 (also referred to as a“second layer” or “top layer”) designed to face the human body supportedby the seat of the wheelchair, a series of chambers 306 formed byinterconnections between the first and second portions 302, 304, andmultiple valves 308 that control the flow of fluid into and/or out ofthe chambers 306. As can be seen in FIG. 3 , the chambers 306 may bearranged similar to those shown in FIGS. 2A-B. Here, however, thepressure-mitigation device 300 is designed such that the valves 308 willbe located near the backrest of the wheelchair. Such a design may allowthe tubing connected to the valves 308 to be routed through a gap near,beneath, or in the backrest.

In some embodiments the first portion 302 is directly adjacent to theseat of the wheelchair, while in other embodiments the first portion 302is directly adjacent to an attachment apparatus. As shown in FIG. 3 ,the pressure-mitigation device 300 may include an “M-shaped” chamberintertwined with a “U-shaped” chamber and a “C-shaped” chamber, whichare inflated and deflated in accordance with a predetermined pattern tomitigate the pressure applied to the sacral region of a human body in asitting position on the seat of a wheelchair. These chambers may beintertwined to collectively form a square-shaped pattern.

FIG. 4 is a partially schematic top view of a pressure-mitigation device400 illustrating how a pressure gradient can be created by varyingpressure distributions to avoid ischemia in a mobility-impaired patientin accordance with embodiments of the present technology. When a humanbody is supported by a surface 402 for an extended duration, pressureinjuries may form in the tissue overlaying bony prominences, such as theskin overlying the sacrum, coccyx, heels, or hips. Generally, these bonyprominences represent the locations at which the most pressure isapplied by the surface 402 and, therefore, may be referred to as the“main pressure points” along the surface of the human body.

To prevent the formation of pressure injuries, healthy individualsperiodically make minor positional adjustments (also known as“micro-adjustments”) to shift the location of the main pressure point.However, individuals having impaired mobility often cannot make thesemicro-adjustments by themselves. Mobility impairment may be due tophysical injury (e.g., a traumatic injury or a progressive injury),movement limitations (e.g., within a vehicle, on an aircraft, or inrestraints), medical procedures (e.g., those requiring anesthesia),and/or other conditions that limit natural movement. For thesemobility-impaired individuals, the pressure-mitigation device 400 can beused to shift the location of the main pressure point(s) on theirbehalf. That is, the pressure mitigation device 400 can create movingpressure gradients to avoid sustained, localized vascular compressionand enhance tissue perfusion.

The pressure-mitigation device 400 can include a series of chambers 404whose pressure can be individually varied. The chambers 404 may beformed by interconnections between the top and bottom layers of thepressure-mitigation device 400. The top layer may be comprised of afirst material (e.g., a permeable, non-irritating material) configuredfor direct contact with a human body, while the bottom layer may becomprised of a second material (e.g., a non-permeable, grippingmaterial) configured for direct contact with the surface 402. Generally,the first material is permeable to gasses (e.g., air) and/or liquids(e.g., water and sweat) to prevent buildup of fluids that may irritatethe skin. Meanwhile, the second material may not be permeable to gassesor liquids to prevent soilage of the underlying object. Accordingly, airdischarged into the chambers 404 may be able to slowly escape throughthe first material (e.g., naturally or via perforations) but not thesecond material, while liquids may be able to penetrate the firstmaterial (e.g., naturally or via perforations) but not the secondmaterial. Note, however, that the first material is generally beselected such that the top layer does not actually become saturated withliquid to reduce the likelihood of irritation. Instead, the top layermay allow liquid to pass therethrough into the cavities, from which theliquid can be subsequently discharged (e.g., as part of a cleaningprocess). The top layer and/or the bottom layer can be comprised of morethan one material, such as a coated fabric or a stack of interconnectedmaterials.

The pressure-mitigation device 400 may be designed such that inflationof at least some of the chambers 404 causes air to be continuouslyexchanged across the surface of the human body. Said another way,simultaneous inflation of at least some of the chambers 404 may providea desiccating effect to inhibit generation and/or collection of moisturealong the skin in a given anatomical region. In some embodiments, thepressure-mitigation device 400 is able to maintain airflow through theuse of a porous material. For example, the top layer may be comprised ofa biocompatible material through which air can flow (e.g., naturally orvia perforations). In other embodiments, the pressure-mitigation device400 is able to maintain airflow without the use of a porous material.For example, airflows can be created and/or permitted simply throughvaried pressurization of the chambers 404. This represents a newapproach to microclimate management that is enabled by simultaneousinflation and deflation of the chambers 404. At a high level, each voidformed beneath a human body due to deflation of at least one chamber canbe thought of as a microclimate that cools and desiccates thecorresponding portion of the anatomical region. Heat and humidity canlead to injury (e.g., further development of ulcers), so the cooling anddesiccating effects may present some injuries due to inhabitation ofmoisture generation/collection along the skin in the anatomical region.

As discussed below with respect to FIG. 17 , a pump (also referred to asa “pressure device”) can be fluidically coupled to each chamber 404(e.g., via a corresponding valve), while a controller can control theflow of fluid generated by the pump into each chamber 404 on anindividual basis in accordance with a predetermined pattern. Thecontroller can operate the series of chambers 404 in several differentways.

In some embodiments, the chambers 404 have a naturally deflated state,and the controller causes the pump to inflate at least one of thechambers 404 to shift the main pressure point along the anatomy of theuser. For example, the pump may inflate at least one chamber 404 locateddirectly beneath an anatomical region to momentarily apply contactpressure to that anatomical region and relieve contact pressure on thesurrounding anatomical regions adjacent to the deflated chamber(s) 404.The controller may cause the pump to inflate two or more chambers 404adjacent to an anatomical region to create a void beneath the anatomicalregion to shift the main pressure point at least momentarily away fromthe anatomical region.

In other embodiments, the chambers 404 have a naturally inflated state,and the controller causes the pump to deflate at least one of thechambers 404 to shift the main pressure point along the anatomy of theuser. For example, the pump may deflate at least one chamber 404 locateddirectly beneath an anatomical region, thereby forming a void beneaththe anatomical region to momentarily relieve the contact pressure on theanatomical region.

Whether configured in a naturally deflated state or a naturally inflatedstate, the continuous or intermittent alteration of the inflation levelsof the individual chambers 404 moves the location of the main pressurepoint across different portions of the human body. As shown in FIG. 4 ,for example, inflating and/or deflating the chambers 404 createstemporary contact regions 406 that move across the pressure-mitigationdevice 400 in a predetermined pattern, and thereby changing the locationof the main pressure point(s) on the human body for finite intervals oftime. Thus, the pressure-mitigation device 400 can simulate themicro-adjustments made by healthy individuals to relieve stagnantpressure applied by the surface 402.

The series of chambers 404 may be arranged in an anatomy-specificpattern so that when the pressure of one or more chambers is altered,the contact pressure on a specific anatomical region of the human bodyis relieved (e.g., by shifting the main pressure point elsewhere). As anexample, the main pressure point may be moved between eight differentlocations corresponding to the eight temporary contact regions 406 asshown in FIG. 4 . In some embodiments the main pressure point shiftsbetween these locations in a predictable manner (e.g., in a clockwise orcounter-clockwise pattern), while in other embodiments the main pressurepoint shifts between these locations in an unpredictable manner (e.g.,in accordance with a random pattern, a semi-random pattern, and/ordetected pressure levels). Those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe quantity and position of these temporary contact regions 406 mayvary based on the arrangement of the chambers 404, the number of thechambers 404, the anatomical region supported by the pressure-mitigationdevice 400, the characteristics of the human body supported by thepressure mitigation device 400, and/or the condition of the user (e.g.,whether the user is completely immobilized, partially immobilized,etc.).

As discussed above, the pressure-mitigation device 400 may not includeside supports if the condition of the user (also referred to as the“patient” or “subject”) would not benefit from the positioningassistance provided by the side supports. For example, side supports canbe omitted when the patient is medically immobilized (e.g., underanesthesia, in a medically induced coma, etc.) and/or physicallyrestrained on the underlying surface 402 (e.g., by rails along the sideof a bed, arm rests on the side of a chair, restraints limiting movementof the patient, casts, etc.).

FIG. 5A is a partially schematic side view of a pressure-mitigationdevice 502 a for relieving pressure on a specific anatomical region bydeflating chamber(s) in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology. The pressure-mitigation device 502 a can be positionedbetween the surface of an object 500 and a human body 504. Examples ofobjects 500 include beds, tables, and chairs. To relieve the pressure ona specific anatomical region of the human body 504, at least one chamber508 a of multiple chambers (collectively referred to as “chambers 508”)proximate to the specific anatomical region is at least partiallydeflated to create a void 506 a beneath the specific anatomical region.In such embodiments, the remaining chambers 508 may remain inflated.Thus, the pressure-mitigation device 502 a may sequentially deflatechambers (or arrangements of multiple chambers) to relieve the pressureapplied to the human body 504 by the surface of the object 500.

FIG. 5B is a partially schematic side view of a pressure-mitigationdevice 502 b for relieving pressure on a specific anatomical region byinflating chamber(s) in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology. For example, to relieve the pressure on a specificanatomical region of the human body 504, the pressure-mitigation device502 b can inflate two chambers 508 b and 508 c disposed directlyadjacent to the specific anatomical region to create a void 506 bbeneath the specific anatomical region. In such embodiments, theremaining chambers may remain partially or entirely deflated. Thus, thepressure-mitigation device 502 b may sequentially inflate a chamber (orarrangements of multiple chambers) to relieve the pressure applied tothe human body 504 by the surface of the object 500.

The pressure-mitigation devices 502 a, 502 b of FIGS. 5A-B are shown tobe in direct contact with the contact surface 500. However, in someembodiments, an attachment apparatus is positioned between thepressure-mitigation devices 502 a, 502 b and the contact surface 500.

In some embodiments, the pressure-mitigation devices 502 a, 502 b ofFIGS. 5A-B have the same configuration of chambers 508, and can operatein both a normally inflated state (described with respect to FIG. 5A)and a normally deflated state (described with respect to FIG. 5B) basedon the selection of an operator (e.g., the user or some other person,such as a healthcare professional or family member). For example, theoperator can use a controller to select a normally deflated mode suchthat the pressure-mitigation device operates as described with respectto FIG. 5B, and then change the mode of operation to a normally inflatedmode such that the pressure-mitigation device operates as described withrespect to FIG. 5A. Thus, the pressure-mitigation devices describedherein can shift the location of the main pressure point by controllablyinflating chambers, controllably deflating chambers, or a combinationthereof.

Overview of Controller Devices

FIGS. 6A-C are isometric, front, and back views, respectively, of acontroller device 600 (also referred to as a “controller”) that isresponsible for controlling inflation and/or deflation of the chambersof a pressure-mitigation device in accordance with embodiments of thepresent technology. For example, the controller 600 can be coupled tothe pressure-mitigation devices 100, 200, 300 described above withrespect to FIGS. 1A-3 to control the pressure within the chambers 106,206, 306. The controller 600 can manage the pressure in each chamber ofa pressure-mitigation device by controllably driving one or more pumps.In some embodiments, a single pump is fluidically connected to all thechambers such that the pump is responsible for directing fluid flow toand/or from multiple chambers. In other embodiments, the controller 600is coupled to two or more pumps, each of which can be fluidicallycoupled to a single chamber to drive inflation/deflation of thatchamber. In other embodiments, the controller 600 is coupled to at leastone pump that is fluidically coupled to two or more chambers and/or atleast one pump that is fluidically coupled to a single chamber. Thepump(s) may reside within the housing of the controller 600 such thatthe system is easily transportable. Alternatively, the pump(s) mayreside in a housing separate from the controller 600.

As shown in FIGS. 6A-C, the controller 600 can include a housing 602 inwhich internal components (e.g., those described below with respect toFIG. 7 ) reside and a handle 604 that is connected to the housing 602.In some embodiments the handle 604 is fixedly secured to the housing 602in a predetermined orientation, while in other embodiments the handle604 is pivotably secured to the housing 602. For example, the handle 604may be rotatable about a hinge connected to the housing 602 betweenmultiple positions. The hinge may be one of a pair of hinges connectedto the housing 602 along opposing lateral sides. The handle 604 enablesthe controller 600 to be readily transported, for example, from astorage location to a deployment location (e.g., proximate a userpositioned on a surface). Moreover, the handle 604 could be used toreleasably attach the controller 600 to a structure. For example, thehandle could be hooked on an intravenous (IV) pole (also referred to asan “IV stand” or “infusion stand”).

In some embodiments, the controller 600 includes a retention mechanism614 that is attached to, or integrated within, the housing 602. Cords(e.g., electrical cords), tubes, and/or other elongated structuresassociated with the system can be wrapped around or otherwise supportedby the retention mechanism 614. Thus, the retention mechanism 614 mayprovide strain relief and retention of an electrical cord (also referredto as a “power cord”). In some embodiments, the retention mechanism 614includes a flexible flange that can retain the plug of the electricalcord.

As further shown in FIGS. 6A-C, the controller 600 may include aconnection mechanism 612 that allows the housing 602 to be securely, yetreleasably, attached to a structure. Examples of structures include IVpoles, mobile workstations (also referred to as “mobile carts” or“computer carts”), bedframes, rails, handles (e.g., of wheelchairs), andtables. The connection mechanism 612 may be used instead of, or inaddition to, the handle 604 for mounting the controller 600 to thestructure. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection mechanism 612is a mounting hook that allows for single-hand operation and isadjustable to allow for attachment to mounting surfaces with variousthicknesses. In some embodiments, the controller 600 includes an IV poleclamp 616 that eases attachment of the controller 600 to IV poles. TheIV pole clamp 616 may be designed to enable quick securement, and the IVpole clamp 616 can be self-centering with the use of a single activationmechanism (e.g., knob or button).

In some embodiments, the housing 602 includes one or more inputcomponents 606 for providing instructions to the controller 600. Theinput component(s) 606 may include knobs (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 6A-C),dials, buttons, levers, and/or other actuation mechanisms. An operatorcan interact with the input component(s) 606 to alter the airflowprovided to the pressure-mitigation device, discharge air from thepressure-mitigation device, or disconnect the controller 600 from thepressure-mitigation device (e.g., by disconnecting the controller 600from tubing connected between the controller 600 and pressure-mitigationdevice).

As further discussed below, the controller 600 can be configured toinflate and/or deflate the chambers of a pressure-mitigation device in apredetermined pattern by managing the flow of fluid (e.g., air) producedby one or more pumps. In some embodiments the pump(s) reside in thehousing 602 of the controller 600, while in other embodiments thecontroller 600 is fluidically connected to the pump(s). For example, thehousing 602 may include a first fluid interface through which fluid isreceived from the pump(s) and a second fluid interface through whichfluid is directed to the pressure-mitigation device. Multi-channeltubing may be connected to either of these fluid interfaces. Forexample, multi-channel tubing may be connected between the first fluidinterface of the controller 600 and multiple pumps. As another example,multi-channel tubing may be connected between the second fluid interfaceof the controller 600 and multiple valves of the pressure-mitigationdevice. Here, the controller 600 includes a fluid interface 608 designedto interface with multi-channel tubing. In some embodiments themulti-channel tubing permits unidirectional fluid flow, while in otherembodiments the multi-channel tubing permits bidirectional fluid flow.Thus, fluid returning from the pressure-mitigation device (e.g., as partof a discharge process) may travel back to the controller 600 throughthe second fluid interface. By controlling the exhaust of fluidreturning from the pressure-mitigation device, the controller 600 canactively manage the noise created during use.

By monitoring the connection with the fluid interface 608, thecontroller 600 may be able to detect which type of pressure-mitigationdevice has been connected. Each type of pressure-mitigation device mayinclude a different type of connector. For example, apressure-mitigation device designed for elongated objects (e.g., thepressure-mitigation device 100 of FIGS. 1A-B) may include a firstarrangement of magnets in its connector, while a pressure-mitigationdevice designed for non-elongated objects (e.g., the pressure-mitigationdevice of FIGS. 2A-B) may include a second arrangement of magnets in itsconnector. The controller 600 may include one or more sensors arrangednear the fluid interface 608 that are able to detect whether magnets arelocated within a specified proximity. The controller 600 mayautomatically determine, based on which magnets have been detected bythe sensor(s), which type of pressure-mitigation device is connected.

Pressure-mitigation devices may have different geometries, layouts,and/or dimensions suitable for various positions (e.g., supine, prone,sitting), various supporting objects (e.g., wheelchair, bed, recliner,surgical table), and/or various user characteristics (e.g., weight,size, ailment), and the controller 600 can be configured toautomatically detect the type of pressure-mitigation device connectedthereto. In some embodiments, the automatic detection is performed usingother suitable identification mechanisms, such as the controller 600reading a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag or barcode on thepressure-mitigation device. Alternatively, the controller 600 may permitthe operator to specify the type of pressure-mitigation device connectedthereto. For example, the operator may be able to select, using an inputcomponent (e.g., input component 606), a type of pressure-mitigationdevice via a display 610. The controller 600 can be configured todynamically alter the pattern for inflating and/or deflating chambersbased on which type of pressure-mitigation device is connected.

As shown in FIGS. 6A-B, the controller 600 may include a display 610 fordisplaying information related to the pressure-mitigation device, thepattern of inflations/deflations, the patient, etc. For example, thedisplay 610 may present an interface that specifies which type ofpressure-mitigation device (e.g., the pressure-mitigation devices 100,200, 300 of FIGS. 1A-3 ) is connected to the controller 600. Otherdisplay technologies could also be used to convey information to anoperator of the controller 600. In some embodiments, the controller 600includes a series of lights (e.g., light-emitting diodes) that arerepresentative of different statuses to provide visual alerts to theoperator or the user. For example, a status light may provide a greenvisual indication if the controller 600 is presently providing therapy,a yellow visual indication if the controller 600 has been paused (i.e.,is in a pause mode), a red visual indication if the controller 600 hasexperienced an issue (e.g., noncompliance of patient, patient notdetected) or requires maintenance (i.e., is in an alert mode), etc.These visual indications may dim upon the conclusion of a specifiedperiod of time or upon determining that the status has changed (e.g.,the pause mode is no longer active).

In some embodiments, the controller 600 includes a rapid deflatefunction that allows an operator to rapidly deflate thepressure-mitigation device. The rapid deflate function may be designedsuch that the entire pressure-mitigation device is deflated or a portion(e.g., the side supports) of the pressure-mitigation device is deflated.This is a software solution that can be activated via the display 610(e.g., when configured as a touch-enabled interface) and/or inputcomponents (e.g., tactile actuators such as buttons, switches, etc.) onthe controller 600. This rapid deflation, in particular the deflation ofthe side supports, is expected to be beneficial to operators when thereis a need for quick access to the user, such as to providecardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

In some embodiments, the controller 600 includes an audio output unit(also referred to as a “speaker”) through which audio can be presentedto nearby individuals. For example, instructions may be presented to theuser to reposition herself, or instructions may be presented to acaregiver to adjust a setting. Moreover, the controller 600 may includean audio input unit (also referred to as a “microphone”) that is capableof detecting speech uttered by nearby individuals. Together, the speakerand microphone may permit direct communications with individuals who arenot located near the pressure-mitigation device. For example, if theuser requests that a call be made (e.g., to a caregiver or emergencyservices), the controller 600 may initiate the call via a communicationmodule and then facilitate the resulting conversation using the speakerand microphone. As another example, the controller 600 may be able tofacilitate conversations between users and healthcare professionals whoare not located near each other (e.g., where users are located in homesand healthcare professionals are located in healthcare facilities).

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating components of a controller 700 inaccordance with embodiments of the present technology. The controller700 can include a processor 702, communication module 704, analysismodule 706, manifold 708, memory 710, and/or power component 712 that iselectrically coupled to a power interface 714. These components mayreside within a housing (also referred to as a “structural body”), suchas the housing 602 described above with respect to FIGS. 6A-C. In someembodiments, the controller 700 is incorporated into other component(s)of a pressure-mitigation system. For example, some components of thecontroller 700 may be incorporated into a computing device (e.g., amobile phone or a mobile workstation) that is remotely coupled to apressure-mitigation device. Embodiments of the controller 700 caninclude any subset of the components shown in FIG. 7 , as well asadditional components not illustrated here. For example, someembodiments of the controller 700 include a physical data interfacethrough which data can be transmitted to another computing device.Examples of physical data interfaces include Ethernet ports, UniversalSerial Bus (USB) ports, and proprietary ports.

The controller 700 may be connected to a pressure-mitigation device thatincludes a series of chambers whose pressure can be individually varied.When the pressure-mitigation device is placed between a human body andthe surface of an object, the controller 700 can cause the pressure onan anatomical region of the human body to be varied by controllablyinflating chamber(s), deflating chamber(s), or any combination thereof.Such action can be accomplished by the manifold 708, which controls theflow of fluid to the series of chambers of the pressure-mitigationdevice. The manifold 708 is further described with respect to FIGS. 8-9.

As further discussed below, transducers mounted in the manifold 708 cangenerate an electrical signal based on the pressure detected in eachchamber of the pressure-mitigation device. Generally, each chamber isassociated with a different fluid channel and a different transducer.Accordingly, if the manifold 708 is designed to facilitate the flow offluid to a four-chamber pressure-mitigation device, the manifold 708 mayinclude four fluid channels and four transducers. In some embodiments,the manifold 708 includes fewer than four fluid channels and/ortransducers or more than four fluid channels and/or transducers.Pressure data representative of the values of the electrical signalsgenerated by the transducers can be stored, at least temporarily, in thememory 710. As further discussed below, the manifold 708 may be drivenbased on a clock signal generated by a clock module (not shown). Forexample, the processor 702 may be configured to generate signals fordriving valves in the manifold 708 (or driving integrated circuits incommunication with the valves) based on a comparison of the clock signalto a programmed pattern that indicates when the chambers of thepressure-mitigation device should be inflated or deflated.

In some embodiments, the processor 702 processes the pressure data priorto examination by the analysis module 706. For example, the processor702 may apply algorithms designed for temporal aligning, artifactremoval, and the like. In other embodiments, the analysis module 706 isdesigned to analyze the pressure data in its unprocessed (i.e., raw)form. As further discussed below, the processor 702 may forward at leastsome of the pressure data, in either its processed or unprocessed form,to the communication module 704 for transmittal to another computingdevice for analysis. By examining the pressure data in conjunction withflow data representative of the fluid flowing into the controller 700from the pump(s), the analysis module 706 can control how the chambersof the pressure-mitigation device are inflated and/or deflated. Forexample, the analysis module 706 may be responsible for separatelycontrolling the set point for fluid flowing into each chamber such thatthe pressures of the chambers match a predetermined pattern.

By examining the pressure data, the analysis module 706 may also be ableto sense movements of the human body under which the pressure-mitigationdevice is positioned. These movements may be caused by the patient,another individual (e.g., a healthcare professional or an operator ofthe controller 700), or the underlying surface. The analysis module 706may apply algorithm(s) to the data representative of these movements(also referred to as “movement data” or “motion data”) to identifyrepetitive movements and/or random movements to better understand thehealth state of the patient. For example, the analysis module 706 may beable to produce a coverage metric indicative of the amount of time thatthe human body is properly positioned on the pressure-mitigation device.As further discussed below, the controller 700 (or another computingdevice) may be able to establish whether the pressure-mitigation devicehas been properly deployed/operated based on the coverage metric. Asanother example, the analysis module 706 may be able to establish therespiration rate, heart rate, or another vital measurement based on themovements of a patient. Generally, the movement data is derived from thepressure data. That is, the analysis module 706 may be able to infermovements of the human body by analyzing the pressure of the chambers ofthe pressure-mitigation device in conjunction with the rate at whichfluid is being delivered to those chambers. Consequently, thepressure-mitigation device may not actually include any sensors formeasuring movement, such as accelerometers, tilt sensors, or gyroscopes.

The analysis module 706 may respond in several ways after examining thepressure data. For example, the analysis module 706 may generate anotification (e.g., an alert) to be transmitted to another computingdevice by the communication module 704. The other computing device maybe associated with a healthcare professional (e.g., a physician or anurse), a family member of the patient, or some other entity (e.g., aresearcher or an insurer). The communication module 704 may be, forexample, wireless communication circuitry designed to establishcommunication channels with other computing devices. Examples ofwireless communication circuitry include integrated circuits (alsoreferred to as “chips”) configured for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, and thelike. As another example, the analysis module 706 may cause the pressuredata (or analyses of such data) to be integrated with the electronichealth record of the patient. Generally, the electronic health record ismaintained in a storage medium accessible to the communication module704 across a network.

The controller 700 may include a power component 712 that is able toprovide to the other components residing within the housing, asnecessary. Examples of power components include rechargeable lithium-ion(Li-Ion) batteries, rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries,rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries, etc. In some embodiments,the controller 700 does not include a power component, and thus mustreceive power from an external source. In such embodiments, a cabledesigned to facilitate the transmission of power (e.g., via a physicalconnection of electrical contacts) may be connected between the powerinterface 714 of the controller 700 and the external source. Theexternal source may be, for example, an alternating current (AC) powersocket or another electronic device.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a manifold 800 for controlling the flowof fluid (e.g., air) to the chambers of a pressure-mitigation device inaccordance with embodiments of the present technology. As discussedabove, a controller can be configured to inflate and/or deflate thechambers of a pressure-mitigation device to create a pressure gradientthat moves the main point of pressure applied by an object across thesurface of a human body situated on the pressure-mitigation device. Toaccomplish this, the manifold 800 can guide fluid to the chambersthrough a series of valves 802. In some embodiments, each valve 802corresponds to a separate chamber of the pressure-mitigation device. Insome embodiments, at least one valve 802 corresponds to multiplechambers of the pressure-mitigation device. In some embodiments, atleast one valve 802 is not used during operation. For example, if thepressure-mitigation device includes four chambers, multi-channel tubingmay be connected between the pressure-mitigation device and four valves802 of the manifold 800. In such embodiments, the other valves mayremain sealed during operation.

Generally, the valves 802 are piezoelectric valves designed to switchfrom one state (e.g., an open state) to another state (e.g., a closedstate) in response to an application of voltage. Each piezoelectricvalve includes at least one piezoelectric element that acts as anelectromechanical transducer. When a voltage is applied to thepiezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element is deformed, therebyresulting in mechanical motion (e.g., the opening or closing of avalve). Examples of piezoelectric elements include disc transducers,bender actuators, and piezoelectric stacks.

Piezoelectric valves provide several benefits over other valves, such aslinear valves and solenoid-based valves. First, piezoelectric valves donot require holding current to maintain a state. As such, piezoelectricvalves generate almost no heat. Second, piezoelectric valves createalmost no noise when switching between states, which can be particularlyuseful in medical settings. Third, piezoelectric valves can be openedand closed in a controlled manner that allows the manifold 800 toprecisely approach a desired flow rate without overshoot or undershoot.In contrast, the other valves described above must be in either an openstate, in which the valve is completely open, or a closed state, inwhich the valve is completely closed. Fourth, piezoelectric valvesrequire very little power to operate, so a power component (e.g., powercomponent 712 of FIG. 7 ) may only need to provide 3-6 watts to themanifold 800 at any given time. While embodiments of the manifold 800may be described in the context of piezoelectric valves, other types ofvalves, such as linear valves or solenoid-based valves, could be usedinstead of, or in addition to, piezoelectric valves.

In some embodiments, the manifold 800 includes one or more transducers806 and a circuit board 804 that includes one or more integratedcircuits (also referred to as “chips”) for managing communication withthe valves 802 and the transducer(s) 806. Because these local chip(s)reside within the manifold 800 itself, the valves 802 can be digitallycontrolled in a precise manner. The local chip(s) may be connected toother components of the controller. For example, the local chip(s) maybe connected to other components housed within the controller, such asprocessors (e.g., processor 702 of FIG. 7 ) and clock modules. Thetransducer(s) 806, meanwhile, can generate an electrical signal based onthe pressure of each chamber of the pressure-mitigation device.Generally, each chamber is associated with a different valve 802 and adifferent transducer 806. Here, for example, the manifold includes sixvalves 802 capable of interfacing with the pressure-mitigation device,and each of these valves may be associated with a correspondingtransducer 806. Pressure data representative of the values of theelectrical signals generated by the transducer(s) 806 can be provided toother components of the controller for further analysis.

The manifold 800 may also include one or more compressors. In someembodiments each valve 802 of the manifold 800 is fluidically coupled tothe same compressor, while in other embodiments each valve 802 of themanifold 800 is fluidically coupled to a different compressor. Eachcompressor can increase the pressure of fluid by reducing its volumebefore guiding the fluid to the pressure-mitigation device.

Fluid produced by a pump may initially be received by the manifold 800through one or more ingress fluid interfaces 808 (or simply “ingressinterfaces”). As noted above, in some embodiments, a compressor may thenincrease pressure of the fluid by reducing its volume. Thereafter, themanifold 800 can controllably guide the fluid into the chambers of apressure-mitigation device through the valves 802. The flow of fluidinto each chamber can be controlled by local chip(s) disposed on thecircuit board 804. For example, the local chip(s) can dynamically varythe flow of fluid into each chamber in real time by controllablyapplying voltages to open/close the valves 802.

In some embodiments, the manifold includes one or more egress fluidinterfaces 810 (or simply “egress interfaces”). The egress fluidinterface(s) 810 may be designed for high pressure and high flow topermit rapid deflation of the pressure-mitigation device. For example,upon determining that an operator has provided input indicative of arequest to deflate the pressure-mitigation device (or a portionthereof), the manifold 800 may allow fluid to travel back though thevalve(s) 802 from the pressure-mitigation device and then out throughthe egress fluid interface(s) 810. Thus, the egress fluid interface(s)810 may also be referred to as “exhausts” or “outlets.” To provide theinput, the operator may interact with a mechanical input component(e.g., mechanical input component 606 of FIG. 6A) or a digital inputcomponent (e.g., visible on display 610 of FIG. 6A).

FIG. 9 is a generalized electrical diagram illustrating how thepiezoelectric valves 902 of a manifold can separately control the flowof fluid along multiple channels in accordance with embodiments of thepresent technology. In FIG. 9 , the manifold includes sevenpiezoelectric valves 902. Other embodiments of the manifold may includefewer than seven valves or more than seven valves. Fluid, such as air,can be guided by the manifold through the piezoelectric valves 902 tothe chambers of a pressure-mitigation device. In FIG. 9 , the manifoldis fluidically connected to a pressure-mitigation device that has fivechambers. However, in other embodiments, the manifold may be fluidicallyconnected to a pressure-mitigation device that has fewer than fivechambers or more than five chambers.

All of the piezoelectric valves 902 included in the manifold need notnecessarily be identical to one another. Piezoelectric valves may bedesigned for high pressure and low flow, high pressure and high flow,low pressure and low flow, or low pressure and high flow. In someembodiments all of the piezoelectric valves included in the manifold arethe same type, while in other embodiments the manifold includes multipletypes of piezoelectric valves. For example, piezoelectric valvescorresponding to side supports of the pressure-mitigation device may bedesigned for high pressure and high flow (e.g., to allow for a quickdischarge of fluid stored therein), while piezoelectric valvescorresponding to chambers of the pressure-mitigation device may bedesigned for high pressure and low flow. Moreover, some piezoelectricvalves may support bidirectional fluid flow, while other piezoelectricvalves may support unidirectional fluid flow. Generally, if the manifoldincludes unidirectional piezoelectric valves, each chamber in thepressure-mitigation device is associated with a pair of unidirectionalpiezoelectric valves to allow fluid flow in either direction. Here, forexample, Chambers 1-3 are associated with a single bidirectionalpiezoelectric valve, Chamber 4 is associated with two bidirectionalpiezoelectric valves, and Chamber 5 is associated with twounidirectional piezoelectric valves.

The chambers of a pressure-mitigation device may be inflated/deflatedfor a predetermined duration of 15-180 seconds (e.g., 30 seconds, 60seconds, 90 seconds, 120 seconds, 150 seconds, or any durationtherebetween) in accordance with a predetermined pattern. Thus, thestatus of each chamber may be varied at least every 60 seconds, 90seconds, 120 seconds, 240 seconds, etc. Generally, the predeterminedpattern causes the chambers to be inflated/deflated in a non-identicalmanner. For example, if the pressure-mitigation device includes fourchambers, the first and second chambers may be inflated for 30 seconds,the second and third chambers may be inflated for 45 seconds, the thirdand fourth chambers may be inflated for 30 seconds, and then the firstand fourth chambers may be inflated for 45 seconds. These chambers maybe inflated/deflated to a predetermined pressure level from 0-100millimeters of mercury (mmHg) (e.g., 15 mmHg, 20 mmHg, 30 mmHg, 45 mmHg,50 mmHg, or any pressure level therebetween). In some embodiments, theinflation pattern administered by the controller inflates/deflates twoor more chambers at one time. In these embodiments, the chambers can beinflated/deflated to the same or different pressure levels, and theduration that the chambers are maintained at the pressure levels may bethe same or different. For example, in the scenario above where thefirst and second chambers are inflated, the first chamber may beinflated to a pressure of 15 mm Hg while the second chamber may beinflated to a pressure of 30 mm Hg. In other embodiments, the controllercan apply different inflation/deflation patterns to the individualchambers.

Methodologies for Managing Treatment Sessions

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a process 1000 for varying the pressure inthe chambers of a pressure-mitigation device that is positioned betweena human body and a surface in accordance with embodiments of the presenttechnology. By varying the pressure in the chambers, a controller canmove the main point of pressure applied by the surface across the humanbody. For example, the main point of pressure applied by the supportsurface to the human body may be moved amongst multiple predeterminedlocations by sequentially varying the pressure in differentpredetermined subsets of chambers. Note that the human body could be innearly any position, with minimal changes to the process 1000. Thus, thepressure-mitigation device may be arranged so that pressure is relievedan anatomical region located along the anterior or posterior side of thehuman body.

Initially, a controller can determine that a pressure-mitigation devicehas been connected to the controller (step 1001). The controller maydetect which type of pressure-mitigation device has been connected bymonitoring the connection between a fluid interface (e.g., the fluidinterface 608 of FIG. 6B) and the pressure-mitigation device. Each typeof pressure-mitigation device may include a different type of connector.For example, a pressure-mitigation device designed for deployment onelongated objects (e.g., pressure-mitigation device 100 of FIGS. 1A-B)may include a first arrangement of magnets in its connector, and apressure-mitigation device designed for deployment on non-elongatedobjects (e.g., the pressure-mitigation device of FIGS. 2A-B) may includea second arrangement of magnets in its connector. The controller maydetermine which type of pressure-mitigation device has been connectedbased on which magnets have been detected within a specified proximity.As another example, the pressure-mitigation device designed fordeployment on elongated objects may include a beacon capable of emittinga first electronic signature, while the pressure-mitigation devicedesigned for deployment on non-elongated objects may include a beaconcapable of emitting a second electronic signature. Examples of beaconsinclude Bluetooth beacons, USB beacons, and infrared beacons. A beaconmay be configured to communicate with the controller via a wiredcommunication channel or a wireless communication channel.

The controller can then identify a pattern that is associated with thepressure-mitigation device (step 1002). For example, the controller mayexamine a library of patterns corresponding to differentpressure-mitigation devices to identify the appropriate pattern. Thelibrary of patterns may be stored in a local memory (e.g., the memory710 of FIG. 7 ) or a remote memory accessible to the controller across anetwork. The controller may modify an existing pattern based on thepressure-mitigation device, the user, the ailment affecting the user,etc. For example, the controller may alter an existing patternresponsive to determining that the pattern includes instructions formore chambers than the pressure-mitigation device includes. As anotherexample, the controller may alter an existing pattern responsive todetermining that the weight of the user exceeds a predeterminedthreshold.

In some embodiments, the pattern is associated with a characteristic ofthe user in addition to, or instead of, the pressure-mitigation device.For example, the controller may examine a library of patternscorresponding to different ailments or different anatomical regions toidentify the appropriate pattern. Thus, the library may include patternsassociated with anatomical regions along the anterior side of the humanbody, patterns associated with anatomical regions along the posteriorside of the human body, or patterns associated with different ailments(e.g., ulcers, strokes, etc.).

The controller can then cause the chambers of the pressure-mitigationdevice to be inflated in accordance with the pattern (step 1003). Asdiscussed above, the controller can cause the pressure on one or moreanatomical regions of the human body to be varied by controllablyinflating one or more chambers, deflating one or more chambers, or anycombination thereof.

One of the benefits of the system described herein is that thecontroller may be designed to produce data regarding the pressure of thechambers of the pressure-mitigation device. This pressure data can thenbe examined—by the controller or another computing device—in order togain insights into the health of a person positioned on thepressure-mitigation device.

These insights can take various forms. As an example, a computer programmay determine, based on the pressure data, that the person is no longerproperly positioned on the pressure-mitigation device. This may occur ifthe pressure data indicates that the chamber(s) along one side of thepressure-mitigation device are experiencing more pressure than thechamber(s) along the other side of the pressure-mitigation device. Asanother example, a computer program may compute, based on the pressuredata, the weight of the person positioned on the pressure-mitigationdevice. Generally speaking, the weight of the person may correspond tothe pressure of the chambers given a known rate of fluid flow into thosechambers. Over time, knowledge may be gained into how the weight ofvarious individuals corresponds to the pressure of the chambers in thepressure-mitigation device. For example, pressure data associated with aset of individuals whose weights are known may be fed into a machinelearning (ML) algorithm as training data by the computer program. The MLalgorithm may derive, compute, or otherwise obtain a heuristic thatindicates how the pressure of chambers in a pressure-mitigation devicerelates to the weight of the individual positioned thereon. Thisheuristic could then be used by the computer program to infer theweights of human bodies for which pressure data is available.

For the purpose of illustration, the processes of FIGS. 11 and 13-16 aredescribed as being performed by a controller that is responsible forcontrolling inflation or deflation of a pressure-mitigation device.However, the steps of these processes could be performed by anothercomputing device. Accordingly, the controller may simply transmitpressure data to another computing device in some embodiments, ratherthan analyze the pressure data itself. In such embodiments, a computerprogram executing on the computing device may be responsible foranalyzing the pressure data. This computer program may be developed orsupported by the same entity that owns or operates thepressure-mitigation device.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a process 1100 for establishing movementsof the human body situated on a pressure-mitigation device withoutplacing any sensors in direct contact with the human body in accordancewith embodiments of the present technology. Steps 1101-1103 of FIG. 11may be at least generally similar to steps 1001-1003 of FIG. 10 .

As mentioned above, the controller responsible for managing theinflation and/or deflation of the pressure-mitigation device may includeone or more transducers that are configured to generate an electricalsignal based on the pressure of each chamber of the pressure-mitigationdevice. For example, if the pressure-mitigation device includes threechambers into which fluid (e.g., air) can flow, the controller mayinclude three transducers, each of which is operable to generate anelectrical signal that is indicative of the pressure of a correspondingchamber. Accordingly, the controller may obtain pressure data that isrepresentative of the values of the electrical signals generated by thetransducer(s) (step 1104).

In some embodiments, one or more pressure sensors are located near, orembedded within, the surface of the pressure-mitigation device. Forexample, at least one pressure sensor may be collocated near eachchamber of the pressure-mitigation device. These pressure sensors may beused in addition to, or instead of, the transducers to infer thepressure that is applied to various parts of the pressure-mitigationdevice by the human body positioned thereon. Normally, conductivepiezo-resistive materials are used to produce the pressure sensorscontained in the pressure-mitigation device. This means that theelectrical resistance will change when a force is applied on the sensor(e.g., due to the human body applying pressure to the correspondingportion of the pressure-mitigation device). These pressure sensors canbe used to detect motion of the human body. In particular, motions maybe inferred based on changes in the pressure as detected by thesepressure sensors. Motion data representative of the motions can bestored and/or shared (e.g., with other electronic devices) for furtheranalysis. Data generated by the pressure sensors may be transmitted tothe controller via a wired connection (e.g., via a data cable includedin multi-channel tubing that is interconnected between the controllerand pressure-mitigation device) or a wireless connection (e.g., viawireless communication circuitry included in the controller andpressure-mitigation device).

At a high level, the intrinsic motion of the human body may be measuredby analyzing the motion data—either alone or in conjunction withpressure data and/or flow data. This motion data may be used as abarometer of health similar to other vital signs, such as bloodpressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation level, and thus may be usedto predict well-being. In some embodiments, the motion data is used in aclosed feedback loop to inform caregivers of the intrinsic motion (orlack thereof), which may be an indication of the health state andwhether intervention is necessary. Assume, for example, that the motiondata indicates that a patient consistently adjusts her position asmall-yet-noticeable amount. If the motion data indicates that no suchmovements have occurred for an extended duration (e.g., 5×, 10×, or 20×the normal interval of time between movements), then the patient mayhave experienced a change in health that is worth noting to nearbycaregivers. Note that the term “caregiver” may be used to refer to anyperson that provides care to a user of a pressure-mitigation device.Examples of caregivers include healthcare professionals, family members,friends, and the like.

Vital signs could also be inferred by the controller when establishingthe health state, determining whether intervention is necessary, etc.For example, the controller may be able to infer the respiratory rate ofthe human body based on its motion as represented by the motion data.Examples of vital signs include blood pressure, heart rate, respiratoryrate, oxygen saturation, and the like. The entire system, including thepressure-mitigation device and the controller, can be used in a feedbackloop involving the patient and/or the caregiver as a means tocommunicate. The motion data may also indicate when the patient has leftthe pressure-mitigation device. Accordingly, the controller could beemployed as part of a fall prevention system or fall detection systemthat generates notifications to alert caregivers of the patient's egressfrom the pressure-mitigation device. These notifications may be audibleor non-audible. For instance, a notification (e.g., in the form of atext message, email message, or push notification) may be automaticallydelivered to a computing device associated with a caregiver responsiveto a determination that the patient has left the pressure-mitigationdevice. Accordingly, the controller can be used to facilitatecommunication between the patient and her caregivers regarding herhealth state. For instance, the controller could be programmed toautomatically contact emergency services (e.g., by dialing 911) in somesituations, and the controller could be programmed to contact a primaryhealthcare provider in other situations.

The controller can then examine the pressure data to identify movements,if any, of the human body situated on the pressure-mitigation device(step 1105). Additionally or alternatively, the controller can examinethe pressure data to identify a present location of the human bodysituated on the pressure-mitigation device. Accordingly, the controllermay not only be able to monitor the location of the human body overtime, but also detect changes in pressure that are indicative ofmovements. Such an approach allows for the mobility of the human body tobe understood in a more holistic sense. By constantly monitoring thepressures of the chambers of the pressure-mitigation device, thecontroller may be able to infer the location of the human body withoutrequiring the use of sensors that are in direct contact with the humanbody. Though, as noted above, pressure sensors could be incorporatedinto the pressure-mitigation device to provide greater insight into thelocation and movement of the human body.

As further discussed below, the controller may transmit at least some ofthe pressure data to a remote location for further analysis. Forexample, the controller may transmit the pressure data to a computingdevice for further analysis by a computer program executing thereon. Asanother example, the controller may transmit the pressure data to anetwork-accessible storage medium that could be subsequently accessed bya computer program executing on a computing device.

Unless contrary to physical possibility, it is envisioned that the stepsdescribed above may be performed in various sequences and combinations.For example, the controller may be configured to perform the processes1000, 1100 of FIGS. 10 and 11 simultaneously. Other steps may also beincluded in some embodiments. As an example, the controller may cause anotification to be transmitted to another computing device in somesituations. For instance, the controller may cause a notification to betransmitted to another computing device responsive to discovering amovement that is indicative of discomfort in an anatomical region of thehuman body situated on the pressure-mitigation device. One example ofsuch a movement is shifting the pelvic region upward while in the supineposition so as to relieve pressure on the sacral region. As anotherexample, the controller may cause a notification to be transmitted toanother computing device responsive to discovering a movement indicativeof an attempt by the human body to leave the pressure-mitigation deviceor a complete lack of movement for a specified period of time.

Overview of Networked Pressure-Mitigation Systems

Remote monitoring of the pressure in the chambers of apressure-mitigation device can be used to infer the health state of aperson (also referred to as a “patient,” “subject,” or “user” of thepressure-mitigation device) situated thereon. For example, the pressuremay be used to establish whether a user is presently mobile, or thepressure may be used to identify periods of complete immobility that mayindicate a decline in the health state or a potential healthcomplication. As further discussed below, remote monitoring may alsodetect when a user leaves the bed, chair, or other surface on which thepatient-mitigation device is situated. In some embodiments, alerts areprovided to draw attention to this movement. For example, the controllermay generate a local alarm (e.g., an audible notification or visualnotification) to draw attention to the movement. As another example, thecontroller may cause another computing device (e.g., a mobile phone) togenerate a remote alarm to draw attention to the movement. Such anapproach allows caregivers to assist when the user is ambulatory toavoid falls and/or identify falls from the surface in near real timewithout constant surveillance.

Remote monitoring can also be used to determine whether the user isproperly using the pressure-mitigation device, whether the user isproperly positioned on the pressure-mitigation device, or whether theuser is using the pressure-mitigation device in compliance with aprescribed protocol. Based on this information, alerts can be generatedby, or transmitted to, another computing device accessible by ahealthcare facility (e.g., a hospital, clinic, or nursing home), ahealthcare professional (e.g., a doctor, nurse, or therapist), oranother individual who is responsible for providing care to the user. Byanalyzing the pressure data in real time, accurate alerts can beprovided to caregivers, management (e.g., of the healthcare facilityresponsible for supplying the pressure-mitigation device), and otherswhen the user is not compliant with the protocol and/or is improperlyusing the pressure-mitigation device (e.g., is positioned incorrectly),thereby promoting appropriate usage and enhancing the benefits of thesystem as a whole.

FIG. 12 depicts an example of a communication environment 1200 thatincludes a controller 1202 that is responsible for controlling inflationand/or deflation of a pressure-mitigation device (not shown). As shownin FIG. 12 , the controller 1202 can be configured to communicate withother computing devices. For example, the controller 1202 may transmitdata to a given computing device, receive instructions from a givencomputing device, etc. Examples of computing devices include mobilephones 1204, tablet computers 1206, mobile workstations 1208, andcomputer servers 1210. The controller 1202 and computing devices maycollectively be referred to as the “networked devices.”

The networked devices can be connected to one another via one or morenetworks 1212 a-g. The networks 1212 a-g can include personal areanetworks (PANs), local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs),metropolitan area networks (MANs), cellular networks, the Internet, etc.Additionally or alternatively, the networked devices may communicatewith one another over a short-range communication protocol, such asBluetooth, near-field communication (NFC), Wi-Fi, ZigBee, anothercommercial point-to-point protocol, or a proprietary point-to-pointprotocol. For example, the controller 1202 may include a Bluetooth LowEnergy chipset, a Wi-Fi chipset, etc. In some embodiments, thecontroller 1202 is communicatively coupled to the mobile phone 1204 viaa Bluetooth communication channel and the computer server 1210 via aWi-Fi communication channel.

Embodiments of the communication environment may include some or all ofthe networked devices. For example, the communication environment 1200may include the controller 1202 and a single computing device (e.g., themobile phone 1204) that is responsible for examining data generated,derived, or otherwise obtained by the controller 1202. As anotherexample, the communication environment 1200 may include the controller1202 and a computer server 1210 on which data is stored for subsequentreview. In such embodiments, the computer server 1210 may examine datagenerated, derived, or otherwise obtained by the controller 1202, andthe computer server 1210 may transmit analyses of the data to anothercomputing device. For example, the computer server 1210 may transmitanalyses of pressure data to the mobile phone 1204 for presentation to acaregiver.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of a process 1300 for establishing a value fora characteristic of the human body situated on a pressure-mitigationdevice based on an analysis of data representative of the pressure ofthe chambers of the pressure-mitigation device. Steps 1301-1304 may beat least generally similar to steps 1101-1104 of FIG. 11 .

Here, however, the controller estimates a value for a characteristic ofthe human body based on the pressure data and/or information derivedfrom the pressure data (step 1305). For example, the controller may beable to estimate the weight of the human body by examining the pressuredata in conjunction with flow data representative of the fluid flowinginto the controller (e.g., from one or more pumps). As another example,the controller may be able to estimate the respiration rate and/or theheart rate by examining movements of the human body inferred from thepressure data. Heartbeats may be associated with small changes in thepressure of at least one chamber of the pressure-mitigation device,while respirations (e.g., inhalations or exhalations) may be associatedwith slightly larger changes in the pressure of at least one chamber ofthe pressure-mitigation device. Generally, the pressure changescorresponding to heartbeats may only be detectable in a small subset ofchambers (e.g., those located directly beneath the upper chest).Meanwhile, the pressure changes corresponding to respirations may bedetectable in a larger subset of chambers. Accordingly, the controllermay be able to understand aspects of the health of the human body, suchas its state of mobility, in a noninvasive manner. As discussed above,pressure data could instead be filtered, processed, and examined toobtain information regarding motions related to blood pressure, heartrate, and respiratory rate.

In some embodiments, pressure data is examined by the controller in realtime so as to continually establish the value of the characteristic ofthe human body. For example, the controller may estimate somecharacteristics (e.g., heart rate and respiratory rate) on an ongoingbasis as constant insight into those characteristics may be critical toproviding proper care. In other embodiments, pressure data is examinedby the controller on an ad hoc basis so as to periodically establish thevalue of the characteristic of the human body. For example, thecontroller may estimate some characteristics (e.g., weight and bloodpressure) on an infrequent basis as sporadic insight into thosecharacteristics may be sufficient. Note that pressure data could beobtained in real time regardless of the frequency with which thepressure data is examined.

Thereafter, the controller may transmit information related to thecharacteristic to a destination across a network (step 1306). Forexample, the controller may transmit the information to a piece ofhealthcare equipment that is accessible to a caregiver responsible formanaging the human body situated on the pressure-mitigation device.Examples of healthcare equipment include mobile workstations,ventilators, pulse oximeters, monitors, and other computing devicessituated in healthcare facilities. As another example, the controllermay transmit the information to a computing device that is associatedwith the caregiver. Examples of computing devices include mobile phones,tablet computers, and wearable electronic devices such as watches andfitness trackers. As another example, the controller may transmit theinformation to a computer server on which information regarding deployedpressure-mitigation devices is stored. The information may not onlyinclude the value for the characteristic, but also details regarding howthe value was estimated. For example, the information may include thesubset of pressure data that was used to estimate the value, operatingconditions of the controller (e.g., rate of fluid flow into the chambersof the pressure-mitigation device), and the like.

As further discussed with reference to FIG. 16 , the controller may alsobe able to detect instances of medical events based on patterns ofvalues discovered in the motion data that are indicative of certainmotions. These patterns of values may be discovered by applyingcomputer-implemented models (or simply “models”) that are trained todetect patterns that may be representative of medical events to thepressure data. One example of a medical event is a seizure. During aseizure, the human body will experience violent muscle contractions thatcorrespond to high-frequency spikes in pressure within the chambers ofthe pressure-mitigation device. Accordingly, if a series ofhigh-frequency spikes are discovered over a short interval of time(e.g., 3 seconds, 5 seconds, or 10 seconds), then the controller mayinfer that the patient placed thereon has experienced a seizure and thentake appropriate action (e.g., notify a caregiver).

Such analysis of the pressure data could additionally or alternativelybe performed by another computing device, such as a mobile phone, tabletcomputer, mobile workstation, or computer server. For example, “light”analysis may be performed by the controller using lessresource-intensive heuristics, algorithms, or models, while “heavy”analysis may be performed by the other computing device using moreresource-intensive heuristics, algorithms, or models.

In embodiments where another computing device analyzes the pressuredata, the controller may transmit the pressure data (or informationderived from the pressure data) to the other computing device. Forexample, the pressure data may be transmitted to a computer server thatis communicatively connected to the controller. The computer server maybe directly connected to the controller, or the computer server may beindirectly connected to the controller via one or more intermediarycomputing devices. The computer server can examine the pressure data andthen produce an output that is indicative of an estimated value for acharacteristic of the human body. For example, the computer server mayapply an algorithm to identify one or more values that define avariation in the pressure data that matches a pattern in accordance witha pattern-defining parameter. The computer server can then generate anotification that specifies the output. The notification may betransmitted to the controller or another computing device. For example,the computer server may transmit the notification to a mobile phoneassociated with a caregiver responsible for providing care to a user ofa pressure-mitigation device or an administrator of the healthcarefacility in which the user is located. As another example, the computerserver may transmit the notification to a mobile workstation that islocated in proximity to the controller (and thus the pressure-mitigationdevice and user). The notification may be delivered in the form of apush notification, email message, Short Message Service (SMS) message(also referred to as a “text message”), etc.

The controller may be deployed as part of a closed loop system that isdesigned to autonomously infer information related to the health of auser of a pressure-mitigation device based on an analysis of dataindicative of the pressure of the chambers of the pressure-mitigationdevice. Thus, the controller (or some other computing device) may beconfigured to examine the pressure data to determine whether thepressure-mitigation device has been properly deployed, whetheradjustments of the user are needed, etc. For example, the pressure datamay be examined to determine whether the values indicate that the userhas been properly situated on the pressure-mitigation device. In theevent that the pressure data indicates that the user is not properlysituated on the pressure-mitigation device, a notification may begenerated (e.g., by the controller) so that corrective action can betaken, thereby ensuring that the pressure-mitigation device is able toprovide therapy as intended.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of a process 1400 for producing a coveragemetric that indicates whether a pressure-mitigation device is beingoperated in accordance with a treatment regimen (also referred to as a“treatment program”). The controller may execute the process 1400 on aperiodic or continual basis so that real-time feedback can be providedregarding whether the pressure-mitigation device is being deployedproperly. While the process 1400 is described as being performed by acontroller, those skilled in the art will recognize that the process1400 could be partially or entirely performed by another computingdevice, such as a mobile phone, tablet computer, mobile workstation, orcomputer server.

Initially, the controller obtains data indicative of the pressure of thechambers of a pressure-mitigation device that is presently deployed(step 1401). The controller can then examine the pressure data to infera location, position, or orientation of the human body situated on thepressure-mitigation device (step 1402). The location, position, ororientation may be inferred based on an analysis of the pressure data inconjunction with data representative of fluid flowing into thepressure-mitigation device. Normally, the fluid flows through thecontroller as discussed above with reference to FIGS. 6A-9 . However,the fluid could flow directly from a source (e.g., one or more pumps)into the pressure-mitigation device in embodiments where the controllermanages the rate at which the fluid flows into the chambers of thepressure-mitigation device through control of the source. As an example,the controller may infer that the human body is located above a givenchamber responsive to discovering that its pressure in higher thanexpected based on the amount of fluid being directed into the givenchamber. Analysis of the feedback (e.g., as indicated in the pressuredata generated for the human body) can be performed to ascertain thelocation of the human body in relation to the pressure-mitigationdevice. More specifically, the location of the human body may beestablished by monitoring the pressure of individual cells of thepressure-mitigation device. This information could be used, for example,to generate an alert that indicates the human body is improperlypositioned over the pressure-mitigation device, which may prompt acaregiver to reposition the human body. In short, the controller mayconfirm that the pressure-mitigation device is being used properly toensure the greatest efficacy for the human body. By monitoring theobserved pressure versus the expected pressure on a per-cell basis, thelocation of the human body in relation to the pressure-mitigation devicecan also be established and then tracked over time. This may be helpfulif, for example, the human body has little motor control or movesunexpectedly (e.g., due to spasms). Moreover, the controller may be ableto infer movements of the human body by analyzing the pressure data.These movements may be caused by the user, another individual (e.g., acaregiver or an operator of the controller), or the underlying surfaceon which the pressure-mitigation device is deployed.

Then, the controller can produce data (also referred to as “movementdata” or “motion data”) that is representative of the location,position, or orientation of the human body (step 1403). The controllermay calculate a coverage metric indicative of the amount of time thatthe human body has been properly positioned on the pressure-mitigationdevice based on the pressure data, motion data, or any combinationthereof (step 1404). That is, the controller may analyze pressure dataand/or motion data to calculate the amount of proper usage of thepressure-mitigation device (and thus infer the proper amount of therapyto be delivered by the pressure-mitigation device) over any giveninterval of time. This metric can be used as a quality and performanceimprovement measure, whereby feedback can be provided to caregiversregarding how the pressure-mitigation device was employed—eitherproperly or improperly—in various scenarios. Real-time feedback couldalso be given to caregivers to allow for proper positioning of the humanbody over the pressure-mitigation device in order to ensure optimaltherapy delivery.

In some embodiments, the coverage metric is calculated based on a subsetof the pressure data and/or the motion data. For example, the controllercould calculate the coverage metric using pressure data and/or motiondata corresponding to a predetermined interval of time (e.g., 2 hours, 4hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, or 24 hours). As another example, thecontroller could calculate the coverage metric using pressure dataand/or motion data that follows receipt of input indicative of anacknowledgement that the user has been situated on thepressure-mitigation device. To provide the input, an operator mayinteract with a mechanical input component (e.g., mechanical inputcomponent 606 of FIG. 6A) or a digital input component (e.g., visible ondisplay 610 of FIG. 6A) accessible on the controller. Alternatively, theoperator may indicate that the user has been situated on thepressure-mitigation device through an interface generated by a computerprogram executing on a computing device, such as a mobile phone, tabletcomputer, or mobile workstation.

The controller may cause presentation of a notification that specifiesthe coverage metric or a recommendation based on the coverage metric(step 1405). The notification may be presented to indicate whether theuser is properly arranged over the pressure-mitigation device. Forexample, a notification may be presented to a caregiver responsive todetermining that the user is not properly arranged over thepressure-mitigation device (and thus must be moved). As another example,a notification may be presented to an administrator associated with ahospital responsive to determining that the coverage metric fallsbeneath a predetermined threshold (e.g., 75%, 80%, 90%, or 95% of agiven interval of time). Accordingly, notifications may be generated onan ad hoc basis based on whether certain conditions are met.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of a process 1500 for establishing whether apressure-mitigation device that is deployed beneath a human body isbeing used in compliance with a treatment regimen. Generally speaking,the treatment regimen may require that the human body be situated in aparticular position with respect to the chambers of thepressure-mitigation device. For example, to ensure pressure applied byan underlying surface to an anatomical region of the human body isrelieved, the anatomical region may need to be centrally located overthe center of the geometric pattern of chambers.

Initially, a controller may cause the chambers of thepressure-mitigation device to be inflated or deflated to varying degreesin accordance with a programmed pattern (step 1501). Step 1501 of FIG.15 may be at least generally similar to step 1003 of FIG. 10 and step1103 of FIG. 11 . Accordingly, the controller may control the flow offluid (e.g., air) into each chamber so as to inflate and/or deflatechambers in a controlled manner to lessen the pressure applied to thehuman body by the surface of the object on which the pressure-mitigationdevice is deployed.

Thereafter, the controller can obtain data that indicates the pressureof at least some of the chambers of the pressure-mitigation device (step1502). Normally, this pressure data indicates the pressure of eachchamber of the pressure-mitigation device, though the pressure data mayonly indicate the pressure of some chambers of the pressure-mitigationdevice in some embodiments. This pressure data may be based onelectrical signals generated by transducers mounted in the controller,or this pressure data may be based on pressure sensors embedded in thepressure-mitigation device. The controller can then examine thispressure data so as to establish a location of the human body withrespect to the chambers (step 1503). Normally, the chambers of thepressure-mitigation device are arranged in a geometric pattern that isdesigned to alleviate pressure on an anatomical region as discussedabove. By examining the pressure of individual chambers, the controllermay be able to infer the location of the human body with respect to thegeometric pattern. For example, if chambers along opposing sides of thepressure-mitigation device have roughly equal pressures, the controllermay infer that the human body is centered over the geometric pattern.Conversely, if the controller discovers that the chambers along one sideof the pressure-mitigation device have higher pressures, then thecontroller may infer that the human body is likely positioned closer tothat side of the pressure-mitigation device.

The controller can then produce, based on the location, an output thatindicates whether the human body is properly positioned on thepressure-mitigation device as required by the treatment regimen (step1504). For example, the controller may generate an audible notificationor visual notification responsive to a determination that the human bodyis not properly positioned on the pressure-mitigation apparatus. Asanother example, the controller may transmit a notification to acomputing device associated with a caregiver that specifies the humanbody is not properly positioned on the pressure-mitigation apparatus.Accordingly, the controller may be able to generate appropriatenotifications to ensure that the pressure-mitigation device is beingused as intended to ensure the greatest efficacy for the human body.

In some embodiments, the controller transmits information related to theoutput to a destination across a network (step 1505). For example, ifthe human body is representative of a patient of a healthcare facility,the controller may transmit the information to a computer server thatincludes data regarding patients of the healthcare facility.Additionally or alternatively, the controller may transmit theinformation to a computer server that is managed by a healthcare servicethat owns or operates pressure-mitigation devices. As another example,the controller may transmit the information to a computing device thatis associated with the caregiver. The information may not only includethe output itself, but also details regarding how the output wasproduced. For example, the information may include the subset ofpressure data that was used to produce the output, operating conditionsof the controller (e.g., rate of fluid flow into the chambers of thepressure-mitigation device), and the like.

The controller may perform these steps repeatedly in order to gain abetter understanding of whether the pressure-mitigation device is beingused as intended. For example, the controller may continually performsteps 1502-1504 over an interval of time as pressure data becomesavailable in order to produce a coverage metric that is indicative ofthe portion of the interval of time that the human body was properlypositioned on the pressure-mitigation device. The coverage metric mayprovide insights into usage of the pressure-mitigation device that mightnot otherwise be available. Assume, for example, that the human bodyspends several days situated on the pressure-mitigation device withoutmuch improvement in the health state. In such a scenario, the coveragemetric may be helpful in understanding why there has been minimalimprovement. As an example, if the coverage metric indicates that thehuman body spends little time (e.g., less than 70 percent or 50 percent)in the proper position, then the lack of improvement may be largely, ifnot entirely, explainable by improper usage of the pressure-mitigationdevice.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of a process 1600 for discovering occurrencesof medical events through analysis of data related to the pressure ofchambers of a pressure-mitigation device. At a high level, occurrencesof medical events may be inferred through the discovery of patterns ofvalues that are indicative of movements corresponding to those medicalevents. As an example, a controller may be able to detect seizures byidentifying high-frequency spikes in pressure of the chambers of apressure-mitigation device that correspond to the violent musclecontractions that accompany a seizure.

Initially, a controller may obtain data that indicates the pressure ofeach of multiple chambers of a pressure-mitigation device over aninterval of time (step 1601). Step 1601 of FIG. 16 may be at leastgenerally similar to step 1401 of FIG. 14 and step 1502 of FIG. 15 .Then, the controller parse the pressure data to discover a pattern ofvalues that is indicative of a medical event experienced by the humanbody situated on the pressure-mitigation device (step 1602). Forexample, the controller may identify a heuristic, algorithm, or modelthat corresponds to the medical event, and then the controller may applythe heuristic, algorithm, or model to the pressure data in order toidentify the pattern of values. In embodiments where the controllerapplies an algorithm or model, the algorithm or model may be trainedusing multiple series of values corresponding to confirmed instances ofthe medical event experienced by other individuals. Thus, the algorithmor model may be trained to identify instances of the medical event bylearning from past instances of the medical event experienced by otherindividuals. The heuristic, meanwhile, may simply be programmed toidentify values that match a pattern. For example, the heuristic may beprogrammed to identify intervals of time where multiple high-frequencyspikes occur in short succession (e.g., over the course of 3 seconds, 5seconds, or 10 seconds).

The controller can then generate a notification responsive to adetermination that the medical event occurred based on the discovery ofthe pattern of values (step 1603). For example, the controller maygenerate an audible notification or visual notification that isnoticeable by nearby individuals. As another example, the controller maycause transmission of the notification to a computing device that isassociated with a caregiver responsible for managing the human body. Ata high level, the notification may serve as a prompt for furtheraction—either by the person situated on the pressure-mitigation deviceor another individual. Accordingly, it may be particularly beneficial toperform the steps of the process 1600 in real time so that medicalevents can be attended to appropriately.

Overview of Pressure-Mitigation Systems

FIG. 17 is a partially schematic side view of a pressure-mitigationsystem 1700 (or simply “system”) for orienting a patient 1702 (alsoreferred to as a “user” or “subject”) over a pressure-mitigation device1706 in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. Here, thesystem 1700 includes a pressure-mitigation device 1706 that include sidesupports 1708, an attachment device 1704, a pressure device 1714, and acontroller 1712. Other embodiments of the system 1700 may include asubset of these components. For example, the system 1700 may include apressure-mitigation device 1706, a pressure device 1714, and acontroller 1712. The pressure-mitigation device 1706 is discussed infurther detail with respect to FIGS. 1A-3 , and the controller 1712 isdiscussed in further detail with respect to FIGS. 6A-9 .

In this embodiment, the pressure-mitigation device 1706 includes a pairof elevated side supports 1708 that extend longitudinally along opposingsides of the pressure-mitigation device 1706. FIG. 18A illustrates anexample of a pressure-mitigation device that includes a pair of elevatedside supports that has been deployed on the surface of an object (here,a hospital bed). However, some embodiments of the pressure-mitigationdevice 1706 do not include any elevated side supports. For example, sidesupports may not be necessary if the object on which the user 1702 ispositioned includes lateral structures that prevent or inhibithorizontal movement, or if the user 1702 will be completely immobilized(e.g., using anesthesia). FIG. 18B illustrates an example of apressure-mitigation device with no elevated side supports that hasdeployed on the surface of an object (here, an operating table). Thepressure-mitigation device 1706 includes a series of chambers that maybe arranged in a geometric pattern designed to mitigate the pressureapplied to an anatomical region by the surface of the object 1716.

The elevated side supports 1708 can be configured to actively orient theanatomical region of the user 1702 over the series of chambers. Forexample, the elevated side supports 1708 may be responsible for activelyorienting the anatomical region widthwise over the center of thegeometric pattern. As shown in FIG. 17 , the anatomical region may bethe sacral region. However, the anatomical region could be any region ofthe human body that is susceptible to pressure. The elevated sidesupports 1708 may be configured to be ergonomically comfortable. Forexample, if the user 1702 is to be situated in the supine position, theelevated side supports 1708 may include a recess designed to accommodatethe forearm that permits pressure to be offloaded from the elbow. Theelevated side supports 1708 may be significantly larger in size than thechambers of the pressure-mitigation device 1706. Accordingly, theelevated side supports 1708 may create a barrier that restricts lateralmovement of the user 1702. In some embodiments, the elevated sidesupports are approximately 2-3 inches taller in height as compared tothe average height of an inflated chamber. Because the elevated sidesupports 1706 straddle the user 1702, the elevated side supports 1708can act as barriers for maintaining the position of the user 1702 on topof the pressure-mitigation device 1706. As discussed above, the elevatedside supports 1708 may be omitted in some embodiments. For example, theelevated side supports 1708 may be omitted if the user 1702 suffers fromimpaired mobility due to physical injury anesthesia, or some othercondition that limits natural movement. As another example, the elevatedside supports 1708 may be omitted if the object 1716 upon which the user1702 and pressure-mitigation device 1706 are situated has structuralcomponents that limit movement.

In some embodiments, the inner side walls of the elevated side supports1708 form, following inflation, a firm surface at a steep angle oforientation with respect to the pressure-mitigation device 1706. Forexample, the inner side walls may be on a plane of approximately 115degrees, plus or minus 24 degrees, from the plane of thepressure-mitigation device 1706. These steep inner side walls can form achannel that naturally positions the user 1702 over the chambers of thepressure-mitigation device 1706. Thus, inflation of the elevated sidesupports 1708 may actively force the user 1702 into the appropriateposition for mitigating pressure by orienting the body in the correctlocation with respect to the chambers of the pressure-mitigation device1706.

After the initial inflation cycle has been completed, the pressure ofeach elevated side support 1708 may be lessened to increase comfort andprevent excessive force against the lateral sides of the user 1702.Oftentimes, a healthcare professional will be present during the initialinflation cycle to ensure that the elevated side supports 1708 properlyposition the user 1702 over the pressure-mitigation device 1706.

The controller 1712 can be configured to regulate the pressure of eachchamber in the pressure-mitigation device 1706 (and the elevated sidesupports 1708, if included) via one or more flows of fluid generated bya pressure device 1714. One example of a pressure device is an air pump.These flow(s) of fluid can be guided from the controller 1712 to thepressure-mitigation device 1706 via multi-channel tubing 1710. Forexample, the chambers may be controlled in a specific pattern to reducethe pressure applied to the user 1702 by the surface of the underlyingobject 1716 when inflated (i.e., pressurized) and deflated (i.e.,depressurized) in a coordinated fashion by the controller 1712, therebypreserving blood flow to the anatomical region positioned adjacent tothe pressure-mitigation device 1706. As shown in FIG. 17 , themulti-channel tubing 1710 may be connected between thepressure-mitigation device 1706 and the controller 1712. Accordingly,the pressure-mitigation device 1706 may be fluidically coupled to afirst end of tubing (e.g., single-channel tubing or multi-channeltubing) while the controller 1712 may be fluidically coupled to a secondend of the tubing. While the pressure device 1714 is normally housedwithin the controller 1712, these components could also be connected viamulti-channel tubing. Thus, the pressure device 1714 may be fluidicallycoupled to a first end of tubing (e.g., single-channel tubing ormulti-channel tubing) while the controller 1712 may be fluidicallycoupled to a second end of tubing.

Processing System

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a processingsystem 1900 in which at least some operations described herein can beimplemented. For example, components of the processing system 1900 maybe hosted on a controller (e.g., controller 1712 of FIG. 17 )responsible for controlling the flow of fluid to a pressure-mitigationdevice (e.g., pressure-mitigation apparatus 1706 of FIG. 17 ). Asanother example, components of the processing system 1900 may be hostedon a computing device that is communicatively coupled to the controller.

The processing system 1900 may include a processor 1902, main memory1906, non-volatile memory 1910, network adapter 1912 (e.g., a networkinterface), video display 1918, input/output device 1920, control device1922 (e.g., a keyboard, pointing device, or mechanical input such as abutton), drive unit 1924 that includes a storage medium 1926, or signalgeneration device 1930 that are communicatively connected to a bus 1916.The bus 1916 is illustrated as an abstraction that represents one ormore physical buses and/or point-to-point connections that are connectedby appropriate bridges, adapters, or controllers. The bus 1916,therefore, can include a system bus, Peripheral Component Interconnect(PCI) bus, PCI-Express bus, HyperTransport bus, Industry StandardArchitecture (ISA) bus, Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) bus,Universal Serial Bus (USB), Inter-Integrated Circuit (I²C) bus, or buscompliant with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)Standard 1394.

The processing system 1900 may share a similar computer processorarchitecture as that of a computer server, router, desktop computer,tablet computer, mobile phone, video game console, wearable electronicdevice (e.g., a watch or fitness tracker), network-connected (“smart”)device (e.g., a television or home assistant device), augmented orvirtual reality system (e.g., a head-mounted display), or anotherelectronic device capable of executing a set of instructions (sequentialor otherwise) that specify action(s) to be taken by the processingsystem 1900.

While the main memory 1906, non-volatile memory 1910, and storage medium1924 are shown to be a single medium, the terms “storage medium” and“machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium ormultiple media that stores one or more sets of instructions 1926. Theterms “storage medium” and “machine-readable medium” should also betaken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, orcarrying a set of instructions for execution by the processing system1900.

In general, the routines executed to implement the embodiments of thepresent disclosure may be implemented as part of an operating system ora specific application, component, program, object, module, or sequenceof instructions (collectively referred to as “computer programs”). Thecomputer programs typically comprise one or more instructions (e.g.,instructions 1904, 1908, 1928) set at various times in various memoriesand storage devices in a computing device. When read and executed by theprocessor 1902, the instructions cause the processing system 1900 toperform operations to execute various aspects of the present disclosure.

While embodiments have been described in the context of fullyfunctioning computing devices, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the various embodiments are capable of being distributed as aprogram product in a variety of forms. The present disclosure appliesregardless of the particular type of machine- or computer-readablemedium used to actually cause the distribution. Further examples ofmachine- and computer-readable media include recordable-type media suchas volatile memory and non-volatile memory 1910, removable disks, harddisk drives, optical disks (e.g., compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROMs) and Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs)), cloud-based storage, andtransmission-type media such as digital and analog communication links.

The network adapter 1912 enables the processing system 1900 to mediatedata in a network 1914 with an entity that is external to the processingsystem 1900 through any communication protocol supported by theprocessing system 1900 and the external entity. The network adapter 1912can include a network adaptor card, a wireless network interface card, aswitch, a protocol converter, a gateway, a bridge, a hub, a receiver, arepeater, or a transceiver that includes an integrated circuit (e.g.,enabling communication over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi).

REMARKS

The foregoing description of various embodiments of the claimed subjectmatter has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claimedsubject matter to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Embodiments werechosen and described in order to best describe the principles of theinvention and its practical applications, thereby enabling those skilledin the relevant art to understand the claimed subject matter, thevarious embodiments, and the various modifications that are suited tothe particular uses contemplated.

Although the Detailed Description describes certain embodiments and thebest mode contemplated, the technology can be practiced in many ways nomatter how detailed the Detailed Description appears. Embodiments mayvary considerably in their implementation details, while still beingencompassed by the specification. Particular terminology used whendescribing certain features or aspects of various embodiments should notbe taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to berestricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of thetechnology with which that terminology is associated. In general, theterms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit thetechnology to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification,unless those terms are explicitly defined herein. Accordingly, theactual scope of the technology encompasses not only the disclosedembodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementingthe embodiments.

The language used in the specification has been principally selected forreadability and instructional purposes. It may not have been selected todelineate or circumscribe the subject matter. It is therefore intendedthat the scope of the technology be limited not by this DetailedDescription, but rather by any claims that issue on an application basedhereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of various embodiments is intendedto be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the technology asset forth in the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A controller comprising: a structural body that includes aningress interface to which tubing is connectable, the tubing allowingthe ingress interface to be fluidically coupled to a pump that isexternal to the controller, and an egress interface to whichmulti-channel tubing is connectable, the multi-channel tubing allowingthe egress interface to be fluidically coupled to a pressure-mitigationdevice that is disposed between a human body and a surface, wherein thepressure-mitigation device includes a plurality of chambers, and whereinthe egress interface has a plurality of outlets, each of which isassociated with a different channel of the multi-channel tubing throughwhich fluid is able to flow into a corresponding one of the plurality ofchambers; a plurality of transducers housed inside the structural bodythat are configured to generate a plurality of electrical signals,wherein each electrical signal is representative of a rate at whichfluid is flowing into a corresponding chamber of the pressure-mitigationdevice through a corresponding one of the plurality of outlets along theegress interface to maintain a desired inflation pressure; a processor;and a memory that includes instructions for determining the health ofthe human body positioned on the pressure-mitigation device, wherein theinstructions, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to:obtain the plurality of electrical signals that indicate, for eachchamber of the pressure-mitigation device, inflation pressure over aninterval of time, continually estimate a value of a characteristic ofthe human body over the interval of time by examining the plurality ofelectrical signals to identify changes that are indicative of movementsof the human body, and inferring the value of the characteristic basedon the movements of the human body, and cause display of the value ofthe characteristic.
 2. The controller of claim 1, further comprising: adisplay that is configured to present an interface that includes thevalue of the characteristic.
 3. The controller of claim 1, wherein saidcausing comprises: transmitting the value to a piece of healthcareequipment that displays the value of the characteristic.
 4. Thecontroller of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause thecontroller to: continually compare the value of the characteristic to apredetermined threshold, and generate a notification responsive to adetermination that a given value corresponding to a given point in timeexceeds the predetermined threshold.
 5. The controller of claim 1,wherein the instructions further cause the controller to: continuallyestimate a value of a second characteristic of the human body over theinterval of time based on the plurality of electrical signals, and causedisplay of the value of second characteristic.
 6. The controller ofclaim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the controller to:periodically estimate a value of a second characteristic of the humanbody over the interval of time based on the plurality of electricalsignals, and cause display of the value of the second characteristic. 7.A method performed by a controller that is fluidically coupled to apressure-mitigation device disposed between a human body and a surface,the method comprising: obtaining, by the controller, an electricalsignal that is generated by a transducer mounted in the controller overan interval of time, wherein the electrical signal is representative ofa rate at which fluid is flowing into a chamber of thepressure-mitigation device through an egress interface of thecontroller; examining, by the controller, the electrical signal toidentify changes that are indicative of movements of the human body; andestimating, by the controller, a value of a characteristic of the humanbody based on the movements of the human body, as identified throughexamination of the electrical signal generated by the transducer.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the transducer is one of a plurality oftransducers mounted in the controller, and wherein the controllerobtains a plurality of electrical signals generated by the plurality oftransducers over the interval of time, each electrical signal beinggenerated by a corresponding transducer based on the inflation pressureof a corresponding chamber of the pressure-mitigation device.
 9. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the characteristic is weight, blood pressure,respiration rate, or heart rate.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein saidobtaining, said examining, and said estimating are performed in realtime so as to continually establish the value of the characteristic ofthe human body.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein said obtaining, saidexamining, and said estimating are performed on an ad hoc basis so as toperiodically establish the value of the characteristic of the humanbody.
 12. The method of claim 7, further comprising: transmitting, bythe controller, information related to the characteristic to adestination across a network.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein thedestination is a piece of healthcare equipment situated in a healthcarefacility.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the destination is acomputing device that is associated with a caregiver responsible formanaging the human body.
 15. A non-transitory medium with instructionsstored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processorto perform operations comprising: obtaining data that includes atemporal series of values indicative of inflation pressure of eachchamber of multiple chambers of a pressure-mitigation device deployedbeneath a user over an interval of time, wherein the inflation pressureof each chamber is determined through analysis of a rate at which fluidflows into the chamber; identifying a computer-implemented model that istrained to identify seizures using patterns of values known tocorrespond to confirmed instances of seizures experienced by otherindividuals; applying the computer-implemented model to the data todiscover a pattern of values, in the temporal series of values, that isindicative of a seizure; and generating a notification that specifiesthe user experienced a seizure based on the discovery of the pattern ofvalues.
 16. The non-transitory medium of claim 15, wherein the processoris contained in a controller that is responsible for controllinginflation of the multiple chambers of the pressure-mitigation device.17. The non-transitory medium of claim 15, wherein the processor iscontained in a computing device that is associated with a caregiverresponsible for managing the user.
 18. The non-transitory medium ofclaim 15, wherein the notification is an audible notification or avisual notification generated by a controller that is responsible forcontrolling inflation of the multiple chambers of thepressure-mitigation device.
 19. The non-transitory medium of claim 15,wherein the operations further comprise: causing transmission of thenotification to a computing device that is associated with a caregiverresponsible for managing the user.